Adapted by:
Alba Otero
Writer“Observe, listen, and reflect” is my journalistic mantra. This philosophy guides me daily and ensures I produce quality journalism. My restlessness has led me explore new areas, such as sustainability and the energy transition, which are crucial to our future. In addition, I’ve also dabbled in street photography, an art that allows me to capture the essence of journalism in action.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Summer is approaching, and social media has been filled with reminders of its impending arrival. This year, there’s a clear revival of early 2000s trends, from outfits featuring Y2K hats and minimalistic tops to an increased focus on slim body types. The body positivity discourse seems to have dwindled, giving way to a renewed obsession with weight loss. The latest trend? Skin patches.
Skin patches. Weight loss patches are transdermal adhesives applied to the skin, typically on the wrist or abdomen. Health gurus on social media and manufacturers claim that these patches help users lose weight, curb appetite, or boost metabolism.
The promise is straightforward: Apply the patch, and weight loss will follow with minimal effort. You just need to remember to change it periodically. Some brands even promote the product as a needle-free version of medications like Ozempic, despite having no scientific similarities aside from marketing hype.
Do they actually work? Bloomberg reports that these patches theoretically release “natural” ingredients into the body through the skin. Common ingredients include berberine, green tea extract, caffeine, and taurine. However, no substantial scientific evidence supports the idea that these compounds can be absorbed through the skin in quantities large enough to result in weight loss.
According to Medical News Today, some experts have pointed out that these products are sold as supplements with minimal regulation, making it nearly impossible to determine their actual contents.
Meanwhile, Nerys Astbury, a professor at Oxford University, told Bloomberg that appetite suppressants haven’t been proven to work effectively when administered transdermally, as opposed to nicotine patches or contraceptives.
A boom in weight loss solutions. There’s currently a significant trend in weight loss, particularly with the rise of obesity medications. Drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, which are based on the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) molecule, have revolutionized the treatment of obesity.
Unlike viral patches, these medications have clinical studies, medical approval, and proven results. However, they require a prescription, medical supervision, and, notably, an injection. This is why the idea of a “GLP-1 patch” is so appealing.
A fundamental problem. The issue at hand extends beyond the patches themselves. It’s about what they symbolize. Several “weight loss” videos feature increasingly outrageous routines, and now, the focus has shifted to weight loss patches. These quick-fix solutions promote the false belief that losing weight can be achieved through an easy patch without the need for long-term commitments, exercise, and dietary changes. This fosters a culture of aspiring for a “perfect body,” regardless of the physical or psychological costs.
In this context, social media plays a crucial role by presenting these patches as an “easy” and “painless” way to lose weight. These videos often neglect to mention the associated risks and the realities behind these products.
As young women are drawn into this wave of weight loss solutions, they face new forms of social pressure that revive the obsession with extreme thinness. The 2000s aesthetic idealized thinness. It’s now re-emerging and bringing a renewed emphasis on the belief that one must conform to certain beauty standards in order to be happy.
Image | Siora Photography
Related | Ozempic Will Soon Be a Thing of the Past: Meet the Next Generation of Weight Loss Drugs