Nutritionist warns weight loss drugs could ‘set teens up for failure’ and cautions Alabama Barker against ‘extreme’ step
DRUGS like Ozempic and Mounjaro have quickly become Hollywood’s go-to slim-down tools, with stars like Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey among those who’ve resorted to injecting them.
Now Travis Barker’s daughter Alabama is the latest famous name to admit to using a weight loss drug, but a nutritionist has warned of unique “adverse effects” teenagers may face if they take them.
In July, a fan reshared a video on TikTok in which Alabama, 18, told followers she was using a weight loss drug to drop pounds.
“I’m on weight-loss medication because I’m tired of being fat and photographing like a damn ogre,” she said.
“I have, like, this thing where I photograph so ugly, and people are like, ‘Oh my god, you’re so fat, and you’re so ugly,’” she added.
“It’s like, I see what you guys are seeing, but just, like, meet me in person. I feel like I really don’t look like that,” Alabama said.
She did not say which weight loss medication she was taking.
However, GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, have become increasingly popular weight-loss tools for those who can access them.
Semagultide and Tirzepatide regulate blood sugar and typically lead to weight loss.
The FDA approves Wegovy and Zepbound for weight management, while Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat type 2 diabetes.
Nutritionist Rania Batayneh, MPH, is skeptical of how healthy it is for teenagers like Alabama to use any of them.
“This looked messy and extreme,” she told The U.S. Sun.
“Alabama is 18 and not clinically overweight, so would not typically have access to a weight loss drug prescription.”
She suggested that the appetite suppressant effects of the drug could have Alabama eating too few calories, “which is not a normal, healthy, or enjoyable life for any teenager.”
“Weight loss medications could set teenagers up for failure long-term,” Batayneh said.
“This is in terms of weight maintenance, long-term health, and mental health issues.
When you add an appetite suppressant and restrict caloric intake, the metabolism will take a hit because of the young age.
Rania Batayneh
“Drugs like Ozempic must not become the quick fix in this age group.
“Alabama and other teenagers who consider using these medications must learn how to take care of themselves properly.”
TAKE A HIT
Batayneh urged caution given the impact of drugs like Ozempic on a teenager’s metabolism and eating habits.
“This is about metabolic disruption in that young age group,” she said.
“This will impact natural metabolic processes and appetite regulation simply because teenagers burn more naturally.
“When you add an appetite suppressant and restrict caloric intake, the metabolism will take a hit because of the young age.
“There are also psychological impacts when a teenager is not eating healthily.
“They could develop a bad relationship with food and have adverse effects when they decide to eat.”
Until now, the most recognizable names who have admitted to using weight loss drugs have all been well out of their teens, including Kelly Clarkson, 42, Whoopi Goldberg, 68, and Oprah Winfrey, 70.
Whoopi opened up about her weight loss after turning to Mounjaro.
“I will tell you, I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made Till,” she said on The View in March.
“I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff, and one of the things that’s helped me drop the weight is Mounjaro. That’s what I use,” she added.
However, there have been growing reports of teenagers getting their prescriptions.
NBC reported on a 16-year-old girl who started taking Wegovy, which is approved for people as young as 12, over a year ago. She has lost 58 pounds.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy they spoke to lost 25 pounds on Mounjaro, which his doctor prescribed but which is not approved by the FDA for children under 18.
Teen Vogue even spoke to a 12-year-old on Wegovy. The tween has PCOS, which has led to rapid weight gain.
OPEN YOUR EYES
The One One One Diet author Batayneh stressed that teens like Alabama shouldn’t be too quick to turn to drugs for “cosmetic” weight loss outside of health reasons.
“We can not imagine what will happen to teenagers who resort to these drugs,” she said.
“What will we say when they become so thin from using them?
“The solution is not a weight loss injection, and this must not be the next logical step.
“If it is not for obesity or type 2 diabetes, these may be visual beauty and cosmetic-inspired decisions versus health-informed decisions.
“Teenagers need not to be focusing on the numbers on the scales or how they look.
“This mindset is not conducive to a healthy teenage lifestyle.”
According to a report by Jama, in 2023, almost 31,000 kids between 12 and 17 and more than 162,000 aged between 18 and 25 used these meds.
The May data showed they were used for diabetes and obesity.
The report also showed the number of 12 to 25-year-olds using any GLP-1 drug shot up from around 8,700 a month in 2020 to more than 60,000 in 2023.
PARENTAL INPUT
Alabama may have gotten the idea to get the jab from her mom, Shanna Moakler, 49.
Shanna admitted to taking Mounjaro to shed the weight she put on after her parents passed away.
“It was on another level, and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” she told People in 2023.
“I was sad. And I just missed my parents so much,” Shanna added.
Batayneh suggested parents should play an important role in educating their kids.
“Her mom has been on weight loss drugs, so for Alabama, this may be a natural next step,” she said.
Teenagers need a healthier relationship with food because that will set them up for life.
Rania Batayneh
“Parents should also give their children nutritional guidance and suggest working out in a gym.
“Teens should be learning how to cook or changing lifestyle behaviors, and there should be an intervention where necessary.
“Teenagers need a healthier relationship with food because that will set them up for life.”
She said they should not be resorting to surgery and weight loss drugs.
“They must try to exercise for half an hour or buy or cook a healthy meal,” she said.
“Teenagers could work on sleeping on time, waking up on time, eating breakfast, and eating healthily.”
Rania Batayneh's tips for parents of teens to promote healthy habits without resorting to weight loss injections
- Encourage your teenager to focus on eating various nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Encourage your teenager to engage in enjoyable physical activities regularly.
- Foster a supportive environment where your teenager feels comfortable in their own skin and focuses on health and well-being rather than appearance alone.
- Lead by example by prioritizing self-care in your own life, as teenagers often mimic behaviors they see in their parents.
- Create a safe space for your teenager to discuss their feelings about their body and health goals, and listen without judgment.
- Discuss the potential risks and side effects of weight loss injections to help them understand that there are healthier and safer ways to achieve their goals.
Like many others in her age group, Alabama, who has struggled with thyroid issues, may spend plenty of time online.
She has been busy carving out her career as a social media influencer and boasts 2 million followers on Instagram.
Batayneh suggested focusing on “cosmetic appearances” may be a trigger for teenagers.
USE LOGIC
“Here we have a teenager saying online that she hates what she looks like,” she said.
“She said she is taking a weight loss drug, so people stop talking about her negatively.
“It is an abrupt choice, but many teenagers who spend much time online might be more likely to focus on cosmetic appearances.
“The solution is not a weight loss injection, and this must not be the next logical step.
It is crucial at that early developmental stage; it may also impact mental health.
Rania Batayneh
“For some teens, turning to weight loss medication could be a visual beauty or cosmetic-inspired decision versus a health-informed one.
“Teenagers who are not overweight might also feel the need to conform to societal beauty standards and what they see online.
“At the end of the day, using weight loss injections (at any age) can disrupt metabolism.
‘But it is crucial at that early developmental stage; it may also impact mental health.
“This is especially true for teens and young adults.”
