Drugs like Ozempic and Wegoby quickly became part of the cultural conversation in the years after they hit the market. These drugs have had a huge impact on how celebrities and influencers look and dress, with singer Lizzo even dressing up as an Ozempic box for Halloween this year.
Although these drugs are intended to help fight type 2 diabetes, they are also well known for their status as weight loss aids. A recent study showed that regular administration of semaglutide (the technical term for these drugs) can reduce body weight by 10%.
Plus-size and inclusive-size fashion brands frequently cite U.S. weight and size statistics in their value propositions, such as National Health Studies showing that one-third of U.S. adults are overweight. I am listing the data for the location. Will businesses that cater to larger sizes be affected due to the increased use of Ozempic?
Glossy spoke with many brand founders in the plus-size apparel space, and all of them shared similar sentiments. “We haven’t seen a major impact yet, but we are keeping an eye on the data.” Semaglutide only entered the market just before the pandemic, and the full impact of semaglutide availability and use across the population has not yet been fully determined.
“Given that nearly 70% of Americans are a size 14 or larger, I don’t think we’ll see the real impact of Ozempic’s popularity for some time,” said Ashley Full, founder of Florida-based Plus Size Boutique. speak Amour 781.
And even if there is a noticeable impact, it’s unlikely that the need for plus-size clothing will disappear completely, according to Shanna Goldstone, founder and creative director of plus-size brand Paris Passou. That’s what it means.
“I’m not worried about business at all,” she said. “I’m not a chemist or a medical professional, but my understanding is that this drug is expensive, so they’re limiting it to people who can already afford it. And in some parts of this country, size 30 There are people who, even if they lose weight with drugs like Ozempic, they won’t get down to a size 4.
If anything, Goldstone said the change will be a good thing for her brand, which focuses on the lower to mid-sized plus-size segment.
About 1 in 8 adults in the United States has ever taken semaglutide, and about half of them (15 million people nationwide) are currently taking semaglutide as prescribed. The price for one month can be as much as $1,000.
The debate around size inclusivity and weight loss comes at a time when the fashion industry has seen a noticeable decline in interest in expanding size ranges. High-profile failures like Old Navy’s ambitious Bodequality platform, combined with a general aesthetic trend towards the thin look of rails in the ’90s, have left the industry more committed to inclusive efforts than in years past. It has become unsuitable.
Polina Wechsler, co-founder and CEO of size-inclusive brand Universal Standard, said she expects the pendulum to swing back soon.
“Over the past decade, we’ve heard a lot about body positivity, neutrality, and size inclusivity. But even when those conversations are at their loudest, brands are struggling to champion those concepts. “I was hesitant,” she said. “We are now at a point in time where cultural trends are moving back toward promoting outdated and unrealistic standards. Some brands are using this trend as an excuse not to offer inclusive sizing. However, there are many retailers and designers who continue to strive during this time, and in 5 to 10 years, they will have perfected their products and are considered leaders in their field. Sho.”
