{"id":459177,"date":"2026-02-07T06:13:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/459177\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T06:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:13:18","slug":"can-glp-1-super-bowl-ads-reduce-stigma-around-weight-loss-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/459177\/","title":{"rendered":"Can GLP-1 Super Bowl Ads Reduce Stigma Around Weight Loss Drugs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SerenaShare on Pinterest<\/a>New GLP-1 ads, like telehealth provider Ro\u2019s new campaign featuring tennis icon Serena Williams, aim to shift the conversation about weight loss drugs.This year, the Super Bowl will feature advertising of GLP-1 drugs in new ways.Telehealth provider Ro is using tennis star Serena Williams to help break down stigma.Hims & Hers is seeking to highlight affordability and equity in healthcare.Experts say this trend is positive since it can help improve uptake of these medications.However, it\u2019s essential that advertisers are responsible and accurate in their claims.<\/p>\n

With 127 million pairs of eyes glued to TV screens in 2025 and ad revenue topping out at $650 million in 2024, Super Bowl advertising is big business, according to figures provided by Statista<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, this year\u2019s Super Bowl isn\u2019t just about touchdowns and halftime theatrics; it\u2019s also turning into a national conversation about healthcare.<\/p>\n

These medications are widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes<\/a> and obesity and have become both medically transformative and culturally controversial.<\/p>\n

One ad from telehealth company Ro<\/a>, starring former professional tennis player Serena Williams, seeks to dismantle the stigma around these medications, while Hims & Hers<\/a> is leaning into themes of healthcare affordability and accessibility, highlighting how access is often driven by wealth.<\/p>\n

Ana Reisdorf<\/a>, MS, who is a registered dietitian and founder of the website GLP-1 Hub<\/a>, said that GLP-1 medications have been an important development in healthcare due to the prevalence of obesity<\/a> and metabolic disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese meds offer a very effective solution to this issue,\u201d she said, adding that this is the first time in recent decades that the obesity rate has actually started to go down. <\/p>\n

According to Gallup<\/a>, the obesity rate has declined from a record high of 39.9% in 2022 to 37.0% in 2025.<\/p>\n

Reisdorf went on to explain that these drugs help regulate appetite, blood sugar, and energy balance. <\/p>\n

They also reduce the \u201cfood noise<\/a>\u201d that can make weight loss so difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly, they also improve heart health, insulin resistance, blood pressure<\/a>, and blood cholesterol,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a miracle in a space that has been a struggle for so long,\u201d Reisdorf added.<\/p>\n

Timur Alptunaer<\/a>, MD, of InHouse Wellness<\/a>, noted, however, that despite the many benefits for metabolic health, people are often resistant to trying these medications because they see it as a personal failure if exercise and diet alone are not enough, a perception which he says is \u201cdamaging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObesity goes beyond lifestyle choices,\u201d he said. \u201cObesity is a problem that is influenced by countless factors, including genetics, hormones, the environment, and the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting things into perspective, Alptunaer compared the use of obesity drugs to using insulin for diabetes or using blood pressure medications for hypertension<\/a>, which he says is no different.<\/p>\n

Alptunaer praised Ro\u2019s ad starring Serena Williams, saying that having a well-known athlete as a spokesperson could help reduce some of the stigma<\/a> surrounding GLP-1 medications.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people are misinformed and believe using those medications is \u2018cheating,’\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there is a stigma surrounding the use of obesity medications, patients are more likely to wait longer to start such treatment, or delay starting these medications for the \u2018right\u2019 reasons, ultimately causing them more shame<\/a>,\u201d said Alptunaer.<\/p>\n

According to Alptunaer, even when stigma is not standing in their way, many people experience financial limitations when it comes to accessing these drugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose of higher income can access specialized care, newer drug therapies, and more frequent monitoring,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

As a result, these individuals often experience better health outcomes than their lower-income counterparts.<\/p>\n

Alptunaer said that companies like Hims & Hers make healthcare more affordable and accessible, which he believes is \u201can improvement, but not a total solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a public health standpoint, effective obesity treatment leads to benefits such as fewer incidences of diabetes and heart disease<\/a>,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen care becomes affordable, it starts to push obesity treatment beyond the confines of an elite, concierge-only world,\u201d said Alptunaer.<\/p>\n

When asked whether she sees this trend in advertising as being a net positive for healthcare consumers, Reisdorf answered with an enthusiastic, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIncreased visibility helps normalize obesity as a medical condition and lets people know effective treatments exist,\u201d she said. \u201cThat alone can reduce shame and encourage people to get care.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, she added the proviso that ads promising effortless weight loss or that ignore the potential side effects could be problematic.<\/p>\n

Echoing Reisdorf, Alptunaer said, \u201cIn general, when the advertisements are responsible and medically accurate, I consider this trend favorable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also noted that reframing obesity from a \u201csocial crime\u201d to a disease is a positive change.<\/p>\n

\u201cElimination of stigma, affordability, and access to these advertisements all at once will foster better dialogue between the patients and the caregivers,\u201d said Alptunaer. \u201cThis will have positive implications in terms of awareness and early interventions, as well as the outcomes and costs of healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alptunaer concluded his remarks by reiterating the importance of balanced advertising that doesn\u2019t oversimplify treatment or suggest that people don\u2019t need medical supervision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there is an adequate level of balance in advertising, there is a possibility of empowering patients and promoting evidence-based care,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestNew GLP-1 ads, like telehealth provider Ro\u2019s new campaign featuring tennis icon Serena Williams, aim to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":459178,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[49,48,26728,84,377,2095,5385],"class_list":{"0":"post-459177","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-glp-1-drugs","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-medication","13":"tag-ozempic","14":"tag-serena-williams"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=459177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=459177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=459177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=459177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}