Meghan Trainor's Weight Loss Drug Comments Really Bum Me Out
Note: This post is an Op-Ed and shares the author's personal views.
Let's talk about Meghan Trainor 's recent comments on her appearance.
This weekend, Meghan was asked about her "health journey" and looking "fantastic" (safe to assume "thinner" here) at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event. "Science is the secret. I love it," she replied. "I learned a lot of tricks that I had no idea [about]. I was working out so incorrectly for so long. I was running and doing cardio and my body was inflamed, always."
"I'm trying to biohack my body. So anything that will help me age backwards, I'm into it," she said, noting that she takes "NAD" supplements. "Make me Hailey Bieber, I'll do it, I'll take it."
Fast forward to yesterday, and Meghan wrote on Instagram, "It's a little disheartening that so many of the questions (and comments) were focused on my body instead of my music, my passion, or the decade of hard work that got me here. This is what it's like to be a woman in the music industry."
"No, I don't look like I did 10 years ago. I've been on a journey to be the healthiest, strongest version of myself for my kids and for me. I've worked with a dietician, made huge lifestyle changes, started exercising with a trainer, and yes, I used science and support (shoutout to Mounjaro!) to help me after my 2nd pregnancy. And I'm so glad I did because I feel great," she added.
Look, I don't want to shame a woman for changing her body. I recently spoke to Heather Widdows, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick and expert on beauty ideals, who told me that it is "completely rational to care about one's looks in such a dominant and demanding beauty ideal." As for what that ideal is, globally, she summed it up as "thinness, firmness, smoothness, and youth."
But I still feel compelled to discuss the harm that can come from taking Meghan's rhetoric at face value. She's using the language of "science" and "biohacking" while simultaneously talking about things like NAD+ supplements, which are both expensive and lacking medical evidence that supplementing NAD+ has anti-ageing effects (there is some concern that supplementing NAD+ can actually mess with your body's ability to produce it naturally).
At 31, Meghan is only two years older than me, yet she's already talking about the need to "age backwards." Indeed, she's spoken about previously using Botox to the point where she couldn't even smile anymore. Again, this isn't just Meghan. We've all been inundated with videos of teenagers taping their faces lest a wrinkle appear overnight. But God, does it bum me out. Ageing is a privilege, but as women we have to pretend it doesn't happen to us.
Her shift away from cardio workouts also isn't a new "trick" she's learned — she's been candid for some years about losing weight via strength training. In 2022, she said of her weight loss after the birth of her first baby, "I learned that I do like healthy food and I learned what portions mean. And I learned my brain is so happy when I exercise, so I'm just [feeling] better than ever."
Enter GLP-1s. Is this the new bar for "healthy"? Never mind the side effects, or that the total weight loss on them is limited for many people, or that they straight up don't work on some people, or the high price point. Like many people, I constantly
Elyse Jankowski / FilmMagic
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Posts Rare Footage Showing Pregnant Dance-Off With Harry
Meghan Markle is pulling back the curtain on the unconventional techniques she used when it came time to nudge labor along. The Duchess of Sussex — wife of Prince Harry and mother to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — recently marked her daughter's fourth trip around the sun with a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday. 'Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!' she wrote in the caption of one post. 'Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!' Two black-and-white photos accompanied the post, showing Meghan snuggled up with Lilibet at different stages of the child's life. The duchess then shifted the focus to Harry in a separate post, spotlighting the father-daughter relationship. 'The sweetest bond to watch unfold,' she wrote. 'Daddy's little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!' Then came a peek into Meghan's pregnancy journey as she shared footage from the delivery room where she waited with her husband for Lilibet's arrival. 'Four years ago today, this also happened,' she wrote. 'Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!' And that one thing? Dancing! Harry and Meghan can be seen joyfully moving to Cameron J Henderson's viral song 'The Baby Momma Dance' in a moment of levity and love. With lyrics like 'prego, but I still give moves like Beyoncé,' the song underscores Meghan's willingness to embrace humor, spontaneity and unconventional methods even in the final stretch of pregnancy. Meghan Markle's Baby Name Advice Is Worth Considering Gwyneth Paltrow Sets The Record Straight On Where Her Friendship Stands With Meghan Markle Prince Archie Turns 6, And Meghan Markle Has 1 Question All Parents Can Relate To
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle's Netflix show likely to get another season: Source
Welcome to 'The Scoop' — the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. (NewsNation) — This week, Meghan Markle bizarrely announced on her 'Confessions of a Female Founder' podcast that she was putting her As Ever line of food products on pause before 'restocking' to ensure everything was 'stable' — telling guest Tina Knowles, 'I'm looking at it, saying, just pause. That happened. Let's wait until we are completely stable and we have everything we need.' As I reported (and people are now just picking up on) earlier this year, Markle had only a 'limited supply' of products — jams, dried flower sprinkles, crepe mix, etc — ensuring they would sell through quickly, a common marketing gimmick. As I also reported, the 'second season' announced immediately after the first dropped, was a turn of phrase as the shows had already been shot, and it gave editors time to edit in As Ever products. Michelle Obama to release style book to spotlight 'the way our society defines beauty' But I'm now hearing that Markle will be granted a third season, regardless of viewership, as Netflix is invested in making her product line and show a success. It is the first time Netflix has fully produced a product line and, like QVC or Home Shopping Network, sees it as a new cash cow for them (doing shows and selling products from these shows that Netflix manufactures). The new line of As Ever products is said to include tablecloths, linens, silverware and everything one would need to make a pretty table scape… something Markle, a visualist, is very keen on. And a third season of the show will focus on the new As Ever products — and how people at home can buy them. Markle, whose show 'With Love, Meghan' dropped off Netflix's top ten in less than a week, may have alienated her agent, her coworkers and the royal family, but she has one big supporter in her corner… Netflix head Ted Sarandos. In an interview with Variety (which called the show a 'forced march') Sarandos said, 'I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture. When we dropped the trailer for the 'Harry & Meghan' doc series (in 2022), everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.' Prince Harry spoke with uncle about taking Princess Diana's surname: Report I hear that while most people are 'done' with the Sussex crew at Netflix, this third season will be a Hail Mary to try and see if commerce and entertainment really can be combined for a profit at the streamer. A rep for Markle didn't return emails. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prince Harry ‘very lonely' in Montecito, turning into ‘Uncle Edward': Friends
(NewsNation) — Poor Prince Harry. While he lives in an Italianate mansion in Montecito with his gorgeous wife, Meghan Markle, and two adorable children, the ginger-haired prince is said to be 'desperately lonely,' friends say. 'He doesn't really have any real friends in the area except for (fellow polo player) Nacho (Figueras) and Nacho travels constantly for polo matches,' one friend said. Michelle Obama to release style book to spotlight 'the way our society defines beauty' 'He is still very close with the 'band of brothers' who were at his wedding — particularly Guy Pelley and Mark Dyer, but… they live in England and the time zones are so different it's very hard to talk regularly. And again, there is no one for him to hang out with (in person) besides Nacho when he is in town or Meghan and the children. He spends a lot of his time chilling with his bodyguards.' Welcome to 'The Scoop' — the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. Ironically, both Pelley and Dyer have American wives, just like Harry — and they do spend time in the States but at their wives' homes in Texas (Pelley) and Virginia (Dyer). And while sources tell People magazine Harry 'has one foot in the past,' friends say, 'of course he does! He spent his entire life in England with family and friends (before Megxit). It's harder to forge deep friendships with people when you're older, especially if you're wary they may speak to the press.' Ironic, as Harry's family, King Charles and Prince William, don't speak to him, as they share the same fear — that anything they say will be repeated to a media outlet. 'It's like history is repeating itself,' the friend added, referring to Edward VIII (later known as the Duke of Windsor after he gave up being king to marry Wallis Simpson). After Edward abdicated, the royal family had minimal contact with the errant erstwhile monarch, who spent his time with his wife mostly in Paris, with frequent trips to the United States. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were outcasts among the elite, and his brother, King George, only saw him briefly (without Wallis in attendance) a few times after the abdication in private — but Edward and Wallis found favor with international hangers-on and social climbers. Meghan's Netflix show invite declined by Dolly Parton: Report Sound familiar? The difference is mainly Edward and Wallis mostly kept quiet. Something Harry and Meghan are not willing to do. In an attempt to earn a living, make money and stay afloat, the couple do calculated press appearances (often dropping tidbits about the royal family to keep interest up) and Instagram drops — where they have been showing more and more of their children Archie and Lilibet's faces as of late (due to 'privacy' concerns, the couple do not show the children's full faces). Harry, known to be petulant and cross when he doesn't get his way, was so upset with his family — even accusing them of holding up Archie and Lilibet's British passports, which would solidify the children's royal standing, that he even is said to have consulted with his uncle Earl Spencer (Diana's brother) about changing his last name from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer. The couple did eventually change their name, but used Sussex, the county in their titles, as their last names, dropping Mountbatten-Windsor, the name used by the royal family. As a source told People: 'Meghan wishes her husband could feel less burdened by the past and more present in the life they've built together.' Something my source laughs at. 'Please — look how easily she cut her own father out of her life after he displeased her. She's good at it. She is fine never speaking with her father again. Harry is not. England was his entire life — of course he has a foot in the past. He is lonely and misses his friends and family. He used to be able to call people up, go have a pint and hang out anytime. He can't do that now. Now he just has his bodyguards.' Sounds dreadful. Not to mention, Harry's dream of devoting his life to charity has hit several snags this year. Harry is head of Invictus Games — a charity he started in 2014 for wounded warriors — is on the board of Africa Parks and heads up Archewell, the foundation he started with his wife, Meghan Markle. And up until recently, he was the patron of Sentebale, the organization he started decades ago with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help fight AIDS but which now 'empowers' young people. Harry stepped down from Sentebale earlier this year after a public row with the new chairwoman who accused Harry and others of 'misongynoir' (dislike of black women), misogyny, and of absenteeism. And, as I exclusively reported last month, Archewell was found to have given over $50,000 to an anti-Israel activist (upon learning from me about the allegation, Archewell immediately cut ties with the group), and now there's massive trouble afoot with his other beloved cause, African Parks. Last month, it was announced that an investigation led by Cherie Blair — the wife of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair — found that a charity Prince Harry is connected to admitted its rangers commit human rights abuses against those in the Republic of Congo Indigenous communities, according to reports. What is Selena Gomez's net worth? Harry is also said to be stung that he and Meghan were passed over by TIME magazine for its 100 list of philanthropists — the magazine instead awarded the honor to Harry's nemesis, brother Prince William and Princess Catherine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
