Nutritionist Says Diet Drugs Could Be Setting Teens Like Alabama Barker Up For Failure
DRUGS like Ozempic and Mounjaro have quickly become the most popular weight loss drugs in Hollywood. Stars like Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey are among those who inject them.
Now Travis Barker’s daughter Alabama is the latest celebrity to admit to using a diet drug, but a Nutritionist has warned of unique ‘adverse effects’ in teens may experience if they take these.
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In July, a fan shared a video on TikTok in which 18-year-old Alabama told her followers that she was using a weight-loss drug to shed pounds.
“I take medication to lose weight because I’m tired of being fat and looking like a fucking boogeyman in photos,” she said.
“I’m like, I photograph people who are so ugly, and then people are like, ‘Oh my god, you’re so fat and you’re so ugly,’” she added.
“It’s like I see what you see, but just meet me in real life. I feel like I don’t really look like that,” Alabama said.
She did not say what medications she was taking to lose weight.
However, GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, have become increasingly popular weight loss aids for those who have access to them.
Semagultide and Tirzepatide regulate blood sugar levels and usually lead to weight loss.
The FDA Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for weight management, while Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Nutritionist Rania BataynehMPH is skeptical about how healthy it is for teens like Alabama to use these drugs.
“This looked messy and extreme,” she told The US Sun.
“Alabama is 18 years old and not clinically overweight, so typically does not have access to a prescription for weight loss medication.”
She suggested that the drug’s appetite-suppressing effects could cause Alabama to eat too few calories, “which is not a normal, healthy or enjoyable life for any teenager.”
“Weight loss medications can prevent teens from being successful in the long run,” Batayneh said.
“This applies to weight maintenance, long-term health, and mental health issues.
When you add an appetite suppressant and restrict calorie intake, your metabolism will take a hit due to your young age.
Rania Batayneh
“Drugs like Ozempic should not become a quick fix for this age group.
“Teenagers in Alabama and other states who are considering using these drugs need to learn how to properly care for themselves.”
GET IT ONCE
Batayneh warned of caution because of the impact of drugs like Ozempic on teenagers’ metabolism and eating habits.
“We’re talking about metabolic disturbances in that young age group,” she said.
“This affects natural metabolic processes and appetite regulation, simply because teenagers naturally burn more.
“If you add an appetite suppressant and restrict calorie intake, the metabolism will take a hit because of the young age.
“If a teenager does not eat healthy, it also has psychological consequences.
“They may develop a poor relationship with food and experience adverse effects when they do decide to eat.”
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So far, the highest-profile names to admit to using diet pills were all well past their teens, including Kelly Clarkson, 42, Whoopi Goldberg, 68, and Oprah Winfrey, 70.
Whoopi opened up about her weight loss after speaking to Mounjaro.
“I’ll tell you what, I was almost 300 pounds when I made Till,” she told The View in March.
“I was on all these steroids, I was on all these things, and one of the things that helped me lose the weight is Mounjaro. That’s what I’m on,” she added.
However, there are increasing reports of teenagers being prescribed their medications.
NBC reported on a 16-year-old girl who started taking Wegovy, which is approved for people 12 and older, more than a year ago. She has lost 58 pounds.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy they spoke to had lost 25 pounds using Mounjaro, a drug prescribed by his doctor but 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
Batayneh, author of the One One One Diet, stressed that teens like Alabama should not be too quick to turn to drugs to lose weight “cosmetically” unless for health reasons.
“We can’t imagine what happens to teenagers who turn to these drugs,” she said.
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“What shall we say when they become so thin from using it?
“The solution is not an injection to lose weight, nor should it be the next logical step.
“If it’s not about obesity or type 2 diabetes, then perhaps it’s about decisions based on visual beauty and cosmetics, rather than health.”
“Teenagers don’t need to focus on the numbers on the scale or how they look.
“This mentality is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle as a teenager.”
In 2023, nearly 31,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 and more than 162,000 children between the ages of 18 and 25 used these drugs, according to a report by jama.
The May data showed they were being used in diabetes and obesity.
The report also found that the number of 12- to 25-year-olds using a GLP-1 drug has increased from around 8,700 per month in 2020 to more than 60,000 in 2023.
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PARENTAL INPUT
Alabama may have gotten the idea to get vaccinated from her mother, Shanna Moakler, 49.
Shanna admitted that she took Mounjaro to lose the pounds she gained after her parents passed away.
“It was on a different level, and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” she said People until 2023.
“I was sad. And I just missed my parents so much,” Shanna added.
Batayneh suggested that parents should play an important role in raising their children.
“Her mother is on weight loss medication, so for Alabama this might be a logical next step,” she said.
Teens need a healthier relationship with food because it is good for their lives.
Rania Batayneh
Parents should also give their children nutritional advice and encourage them to go to the gym.
“Teenagers should learn to cook or change their lifestyle, if necessary, intervention should be done.
“Teenagers need a healthier relationship with food because it is good for their lives.”
She said they should not use surgeries or weight loss drugs.
“They should try to exercise for half an hour or buy or cook a healthy meal,” she said.
“Teenagers can work on going to bed on time, waking up on time, eating breakfast and eating healthy.”
Rania Batayneh’s Tips for Parents of Teens to Promote Healthy Habits Without Resorting to Weight Loss Injections
- Encourage your teen to focus on eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Encourage your teen to participate in fun physical activities on a regular basis.
- Provide a stimulating environment where your teen feels comfortable in his or her own skin and where the emphasis is on health and well-being rather than just appearance.
- Set a good example by making self-care a priority in your own life, as teenagers often imitate the behavior they see in their parents.
- Create a safe environment for your teen to discuss his or her feelings about his or her body and health goals, and listen without judgment.
- Discuss the possible risks and side effects of weight loss injections so your child understands that there are healthier and safer ways to achieve their goals.
Like many others in her age group, Alabama, who struggles with thyroid problems, spends a lot of time online.
She is busy building her career as a social media influencer and now has 2 million followers on Instagram.
Batayneh suggested that focusing on “cosmetic appearances” can be a trigger for teens.
USE LOGIC
“Here we have a teenager online saying she hates her appearance,” she said.
“She said she takes a diet drug so people won’t talk negatively about her anymore.
“It’s an abrupt choice, but many teens who spend a lot of time online are probably more focused on their appearance.
“The solution is not an injection to lose weight, nor should it be the next logical step.
It’s crucial in that early stage of development; it can also have implications for mental health.
Rania Batayneh
“For some teens, taking weight loss medications may be a visual beauty or cosmetically inspired decision, rather than a health-conscious one.
Teens who are not overweight may also feel the need to conform to societal beauty standards and what they see online.
“Ultimately, using injections for weight loss (at any age) can disrupt metabolism.
‘But it’s crucial in that early developmental stage; it can also impact mental health.
“This is especially true for teenagers and young adults.”
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