"GLP-1 Marketing is Scorched Earth": On Culture, Ethics, and Starvation States with Virgie Tovar

There’s a lot of noise right now around GLP-1 medications—conflicting advice, emotional stories, and a cultural shift that feels hard to name.Abbie sits down with Virgie Tovar—author, activist, and leading voice on weight stigma—to slow things down and ask a deeper question: what is actually happening here?They talk about how GLP-1s work, how they’re being marketed, what ethics have to do with this, and why so many people are feeling confused, overwhelmed, and even destabilized—especially those with a history of dieting or eating disorders.As you listen, please remember: this episode zooms out and looks at the big picture and the culture around these medications. Body autonomy is not up for debate.Tune in for more on:What GLP-1s are—and how they drive appetite suppression and restrictionIs this really “new”? (dieting, weight loss, and long-term outcomes)The marketing machine: confusion and co-opting body positivityThe concept of “food noise”Virgie’s brilliant perspective on the big picture and why this feels so intense right nowWeight stigma vs. the promise of empowermentHunger explained: objective vs. subjectiveIs there true “peace with food” through this medication?The cultural shift: weight loss as expectation, not choiceThe business behind it all: profit, scalability, and the GLP-1 “gold rush”The core ethical question: is intentional starvation, at an industry and cultural level, ever justified?Staying grounded: navigating conversations, protecting recovery, and finding supportThis episode is available for free for everyone.To support the show, please consider upgrading to paid on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe​Virgie Tovar is a plus-size Latina author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body image with over a decade of experience. She is the founder of Body Image Reset, an AI app for people struggling with GLP-1 ad overwhelm. Tovar is a contributor for Forbes.com where she covers the plus-size market and how to end weight discrimination at work, and she's the host of GLP-1 Truth Serum, a podcast dedicated to asking critical health questions about the current explosion in injectable weight-loss medications.Resources mentioned:Virgie's Substack - https://virgietovar.substack.com/Abbie’s episode on the Minnesota Starvation StudyGLP-1 Overwhelm App - http://www.glp1overwhelm.comThe Body Positive Journal by Virgie TovarYou Have the Right to Remain Fat by Virgie Tovar GLP-1 Truth Serum Podcast: https://virgietovar.substack.com/podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe