Texas Doctor Warns Ozempic Could Erase Obese Figures in Art

A Texas doctor warns that the widespread use of Ozempic-like drugs could erase the representation of larger bodies in modern art.

Doctor Michael Yafi, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, made these claims at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul.

He argues that obesity was historically a symbol of wealth and prosperity, inspiring some of the world's most iconic masterpieces.

According to Yafi, men with excess weight were often painted as heroes, leaders, and nobles. Women with fuller figures represented beauty, fertility, and abundance.

Ancient examples support this view. The Venus of Willendorf, a statue estimated at 30,000 years old, depicts a woman with a large belly, prominent breasts, and wide hips.

Greek mythology also features the god of wealth, Pluto, who was frequently portrayed as obese.

History offers more proof. Of the 36 Ottoman emperors who ruled between 1258 and 1929, twenty-nine were depicted as overweight or reported to have obesity.

The doctor specifically pointed to the Mona Lisa. He believes the Italian noblewoman, Lisa Gherardini, was overweight because of her four pregnancies.

Yafi suggests doctors should study these historical depictions to better understand past perceptions of body weight.

He stated that recognizing obesity as a positive trait for centuries could help physicians become less judgmental and more empathetic toward patients today.

However, he fears the rapid rise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic will change this dynamic.

These medications cause gaunt faces, a look Yafi calls the "GLP-1 face." He joked that if Picasso were alive today, he would surely paint it.

Usage of these drugs has skyrocketed in recent years. A Gallup survey of 15,000 US adults found that 12.4 percent took the medication in mid-2025.

This figure is nearly double the 5.8 percent reported in February 2024.

The trend is expected to continue as pharmaceutical companies research, improve, and market these drugs, which also show promise for treating addiction.

Yafi noted that the stigma against obesity began in the second half of the 20th century. This shift glorified thin, often unrealistically thin men and women.

Suddenly, thinness became the standard for beauty. The women who inspired artists for centuries were no longer considered attractive.

If the use of weight-loss drugs continues at this pace, more Americans may stop being overweight.

This could worsen the stigma surrounding obesity even further.

The risk is that future art will lose its diversity and richness, reflecting only a narrow, privileged view of the human form.

Communities rely on art to see themselves reflected in society. Removing larger figures creates a distorted historical record.

Limited access to information about these cultural shifts leaves many unaware of the changing standards.

Only a few experts see the danger in this rapid medical transformation.

The potential loss of representation is a quiet crisis unfolding in galleries and studios worldwide.

We must consider the long-term impact of medical choices on our cultural heritage.