Latest news with #JanelleRohner
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
YouTuber faces backlash for hiding the secret of her weight loss journey (hint: it was a popular drug)
Imagine building a community online based on your inspiring journey, and then the followers get to know that you were simply hiding the truth! A prominent wellness influencer and nurse, Janelle Rohner, with around 6 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, is currently facing severe backlash after revealing that her recent weight loss was in fact aided by GLP-1 medication, such as Ozempic. Previously, Rohner had shared her transformation journey, promoting diet tips, exercise routines, and a $200 "Macros 101" course, all while omitting mention of the medication. What happened? The 37-year-old social media influencer revealed in a YouTube video that she's been using GLP-1 'as a tool to help' in her weight loss journey, after various other methods hadn't worked. For the unversed, semaglutide medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, are all classified as GLP-1 drugs and have become increasingly popular in recent years. Rohner began with, 'Over the last year, I have decided to make some new choices in my health. I started working with a doctor, and we did decide to add a GLP-1 to my plan,' adding that she'd 'tried it all — keto, macros, workouts, lifestyle shifts." Let's talk: Therapy, GLP1 & The Truth About My recent Weight Loss She said, 'GLP-1s are not magic. They don't change your lifestyle overnight — it's just a tool to help. I still had to show up: show up for my meals, track my macros, drink my water, go on walks, do my workouts — everything that I already teach and believe in. It just helped me regain a sense of control, and it's something that I don't want to be ashamed of.' She went on to share, 'After a few months, I had lost the stubborn 10 to 15 pounds. I was happy. I switched to microdosing for maintenance, and I would maybe do a microdose once a month.' What are GLP-1 medications? GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications are primarily prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, obesity. They function by regulating blood sugar levels and suppressing appetite. While effective, their use for weight loss in individuals without these conditions has sparked debate among healthcare professionals. The social media backlash: Rohner's revelation came in an April 23 YouTube video, where she admitted to using GLP-1 medication to shed the last 10–15 pounds of her weight loss journey. Although she emphasized that the medication was merely a tool and that she continued to engage in healthy habits like tracking macros and exercising, the followers were not convinced. They didn't respond well to Rohner's video, however, as they accused her of 'misleading' them, after selling $200 courses promoting weight loss programs. One person wrote, 'The issue isn't about using GLP-1 or seeking help from a doctor for your mental health … The real problem is charging people for a weight loss program while hiding the true reason behind your own weight loss,' adding, "You're taking people's money, misleading them, and not being honest with yourself either." Some even argued that Rohner's omission of the medication's role in her transformation was deceptive, leading to accusations of dishonest advertising. Rohner's response A day later, on April 24, Rohner posted a TikTok video in which she apologized and responded to the backlash. She said, 'I'm not asking for sympathy, I'm just trying to do the right thing, and I'm trying to be honest. Now I could have kept this a secret, I could have gone on and on for years and not told, and I don't want to do that.' Calling the internet 'a scary place to be open and vulnerable,' Rohner continued, "I still wholeheartedly believe in tracking macros and the workouts that I do and my classes." She clarified that her decision to use the medication was based on personal health reasons, not a lack of faith in her program, saying, "I did not take a GLP-1 because I don't believe in my classes and macros wasn't working. I did it for other personal and health reasons to use as a tool to hit my goals. And if people felt deceived by that, I really truly am sorry." Rohner emphasized that the medication was just one component of her overall health strategy, which included diet and exercise. She even offered refunds to individuals who had purchased her course in the past 11 months.
Mint
22-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
An influencer gained followers as she documented her weight loss. Then she revealed she was on a GLP-1
In a YouTube video titled 'Let's talk: Therapy, GLP1 & The Truth About My recent Weight Loss," influencer Janelle Rohner told followers she'd been taking a GLP-1. Influencer Janelle Rohner expanded her social-media following in recent years as she documented her weight-loss journey, sharing tricks like using bell peppers as the 'bread" for sandwiches and selling a $200 course on macronutrients along the way. But when she told followers last month that some of the recent weight loss was due to the use of a GLP-1, online commenters quickly soured on her. 'If you're in the fat loss world and taking a GLP1, you must disclose it," one commenter wrote below the YouTube video Rohner used to reveal her GLP-1 use. 'There's nothing wrong with taking one but not disclosing it WHILE SELLING FAT LOSS COURSES is slimy as hell." The situation demonstrates the double-edged nature of influencers' relationships with their audience, whose affection and trust comes with certain expectations. The incident is also another scene of GLP-1s' disruptive effect in weight-loss businesses and food marketing. In her video, which she promoted from her TikTok account with more than 5 million followers, Rohner said the message was hard for her to record. 'If you've been following me for a while, you know I've tried it all—keto, macros, workouts, lifestyle shifts—and I have always shared what's worked and what hasn't," she said. Rohner went on to say she'd been getting a lot of questions about what's changed more recently. Her answer: She had worked with a doctor over the past year to 'add a GLP-1" to her plan. 'GLP-1s are not magic, they don't change your lifestyle overnight," she added. Following a slew of negative comments, Rohner said in a TikTok video she was sorry if followers felt deceived and offered refunds to anyone who bought a class in the prior 11 months. Rohner's 'Macros 101" course, which refers to macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats and proteins, included a worksheet, access to a Facebook Group and a pre-recorded class, according to a page that was previously linked from Rohner's website. The link to the course appears to have been removed from her site. Then Rohner continued on to regular content: a high-protein copycat Disneyland Dole Whip recipe, a T.J. Maxx shopping excursion, a Harry Potter Butterbeer Flavored SkinnyPop popcorn taste test. The comments were again full of rage—with Ozempic jokes and questions about her PR strategy. 'Does it taste like fraud?" one comment on the popcorn video reads. Rohner told The Wall Street Journal that sales for her 'Macros 101" have dwindled since its creation four years ago, with fewer than 30 sales in the past year. She said she hasn't marketed the course in more than two years. Rohner said she still wholeheartedly backs the classes and continues to track macros and work out daily. 'There is no part of me that doesn't believe in those classes," she said in an email. Rohner didn't initially disclose her decision to begin taking a GLP-1 because she wasn't mentally prepared at the time to handle millions of people's opinions on her body and weight, she said, adding that in retrospect she understands she should have been more open. She also said she has given full refunds to anyone who purchased the course in the past 11 months and reached out for one. The situation has left followers and critics asking if followers could have a legal case if they had purchased the course. 'I don't really see this is a big legal problem, or a potential one," said Robert Freund, a lawyer focused on advertising and e-commerce issues. 'It's really just a PR crisis." Hannah Taylor, deputy managing partner and a partner in the advertising, marketing and public relations group at law firm Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, said proving an influencer acted fraudulently is a high bar because many jurisdictions require showing that the defendant had an intent to deceive. False advertising is typically easier to prove. Taylor said if someone had purchased the course believing that it led to Rohner's weight loss, when in fact the medicine was the cause, that could be a material omission that could subject the influencer to false advertising liability. Though social-media commenters have criticized Rohner's return to regular programming with her posts, her strategy could be wise, said Kate Stewart, an assistant professor of communications at Jacksonville State University who focuses on areas such as public relations and influencers. 'People that get canceled come back from getting canceled so quickly in 2025 that it's almost astonishing," Stewart said. Rohner might choose to make enough new content to shove down the old content and delete the mention of the GLP-1 eventually, or start making new content in a different niche, potentially focusing on being on a GLP-1, she said. But for a contingent of followers, trust with Rohner could be lost. 'As an influencer, you have to stand on your authenticity and your credibility," Stewart said. If you wait to disclose your use of a weight-loss drug, 'you've already hurt your reputation, and you've potentially hurt it past the point of recovery." Write to Megan Graham at
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fitness Influencer Janelle Rohner Is Being Called Out After She Shared The 'Truth' Behind Her Recent Weight Loss — Here's A Breakdown Of The Controversy
TikTok influencer Janelle Rohner has addressed the immense backlash over her recent admission about her use of weight loss medication. For context, Janelle is a 37-year-old social media influencer with over 5.2 million followers on TikTok. She has spent years posting videos centered around health, wellbeing, and fitness, notably selling her fans a $200 macros course. The course is advertised on Janelle's website as 'a one time purchase' that 'will literally change your life and the way you view food.' Last week, Janelle posted a 5-minute video on YouTube titled, 'Let's talk: Therapy, GLP1 & The Truth About My recent Weight Loss.' In the video, she admitted that she's quietly been using a drug called GLP-1 as 'a tool to help' her lose weight. Medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which have become increasingly popular for weight loss, are classified as GLP-1 drugs. 'Over the last year, I have decided to make some new choices in my health. I started working with a doctor, and we did decide to add a GLP-1 to my plan,' she said, noting that she'd tried 'keto, macros, workouts,' and shifting her lifestyle. 'GLP-1s are not magic. They don't change your lifestyle overnight — it's just a tool to help,' she went on. 'I still had to show up: show up for my meals, track my macros, drink my water, go on walks, do my workouts — everything that I already teach and believe in. It just helped me regain a sense of control, and it's something that I don't want to be ashamed of.' Related: 28 Celebs Who Never Seem To Get Canceled Despite Some Pretty Awful Behavior 'I don't think other women or men who are using this tool should feel ashamed either. Because if there's a tool out there that can help with your mental or physical health, you deserve to explore that without feeling guilty or ashamed,' she said. 'After a few months, I had lost the stubborn 10 to 15 pounds. I was happy,' Janelle continued. 'I switched to microdosing for maintenance, and I would maybe do a microdose once a month.' Related: 13 Accidental Celebrity Deaths That Shocked The World Later on in the video, after opening up about going to therapy, Janelle said, 'The reason I'm sharing this now is because I always promised I'd be real with you guys and I'm proud of how far I've come.' Unsurprisingly, Janelle faced immense backlash over her admission, with people branding her a 'complete fraud' and demanding refunds for anyone who purchased her $200 course. 'When your business is built around weight loss and you're charging people $200 for a course, transparency becomes part of the responsibility. Taking a GLP-1 drug while positioning yourself as a weight loss coach or influencer — without disclosing it — crosses a line. It starts to feel scammy, especially when people are trusting you with their money, time, and health journey,' one YouTube comment read. 'It's not that she's on the GLP1. It's that she is selling a $200 course to people to help them lose weight when counting macros wasn't even enough for her to lose all of the weight she wanted to,' said another. 'There isn't shame in taking glp-1. The shame is when you fool your audience into thinking they can look like you if they eat and exercise like you do. Disappointing,' someone else agreed. 'Are you going to refund the money you made since starting to take the GLP1? The money you made during that time is based off lying to people who didn't deserve that,' one person questioned. 'A great reminder to us all that social media is not real. I sincerely hope people can be refunded for spending their hard earned money on a lie,' someone else wrote. Janelle later addressed the backlash in a TikTok video. Replying to someone who accused her of looking for sympathy, she said, 'I'm just trying to do the right thing and I'm trying to be honest now…I could have kept this a secret. I could have gone on and on for years and not told, but I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna be that person, I don't wanna be that influencer.' Insisting again that she still believes in tracking macros, and that she used GLP-1 'as a tool,' Janelle added, 'If people felt deceived by that, I really truly am sorry. I am willing to do a refund for anybody who bought a class in the last 11 months.' Several internet users were not at all impressed by Janelle's follow-up, with one person reminding her in the comments, 'Keeping it a secret from the beginning is the issue here.' Janelle replied, 'I understand that and I'm sorry I'm trying to be honest now and make it right,' before stating in a separate comment that she has begun refunding people. Sigh. Let me know what you think in the comments. More on this These Nutritionists Are Calling Out TikTok Recipes That Are Actually Terrible For Your Body (And Mind)Christine Byrne · Jan. 30, 2025 31 Things That Influencers Have Normalized That Are Actually So, So Messed UpHannah Marder · Oct. 2, 2023 Also in Celebrity: Everyone Has A Favorite Color, And I Bet We Can Guess Yours Based On The Taylor Swift Playlist You Make Also in Celebrity: People Are Applauding Amanda Seyfried For Being Open About Her Natural Skin In A Makeup-Free TikTok Also in Celebrity: 27 Cringe-Inducing Celebrity Moments From This Year That You Honestly Probably Already Forgot I Can't
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TikTok influencer Janelle Rohner sold a $200 weight loss plan — before admitting she was on a GLP-1 medication. Now, fans are mad.
TikTok creator Janelle Rohner revealed she is taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss — despite selling $200 courses to teach people how to do the same thing. Now, followers are criticizing her for making what they allege are misleading claims about her own weight loss journey, with some demanding refunds for the course. The situation has sparked a broader conversation about how much transparency influencers owe their audiences, especially when it comes to weight loss advice. Critics argue that hiding the use of medication, which has become more and more popular in recent years, undermines trust — while supporters say that no one owes their audience total disclosure of what goes on between them and their doctors. Here's what to know about the criticism surrounding Rohner. Rohner, who is a nurse, launched her account in 2020 by sharing healthier versions of her favorite foods. Those included lower-carb recipes, such as her famous sandwich, in which she used bell pepper halves in lieu of bread. In the years since, Rohner has amassed more than 5 million followers on the social media platform, plus another 704,000 on Instagram. In the wake of her online success, Rohner started selling a $200 'Macros 101' course, in which she teaches people how to 'experience food freedom' by learning how to balance fats, proteins and carbs in one's diet. 'I went from eating 1,200 calories to 2,200 calories and actually lost more weight, gained muscle and completely changed my body composition,' she wrote on the website for the class. 'I discovered muscles I didn't even know I had!' Over the past year, followers have noticed Rohner's continued weight loss and suspected she was taking weight loss medication to shed pounds. Last week, in a video posted on YouTube, the influencer confirmed it. 'I started working with a doctor and we did decide to add a GLP-1 to my plan,' she said in the video, noting that 'GLP-1s are not magic' and that they 'don't change your lifestyle overnight.' GLP-1 drugs, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, help regulate blood sugar, slow digestion and reduce appetite, which typically leads to weight loss. Rohner did not disclose which GLP-1 medication she is taking, including whether it is an official version of the FDA-approved brands, like semaglutide medications Ozempic or Wegovy, or a tirzepatide medication like Mounjaro or Zepbound. It is also possible that Rohner is using a compound version of the drug — a customized, pharmacy-made alternative to the brand names — which the FDA is currently restricting. 'It's just a tool to help,' Rohner said in her video. 'I still had to show up: show up for my meals, track my macros, drink my water, go on walks, do my workouts, everything that I already teach and believe in. It just helped me regain a sense of control. It's something I don't want to be ashamed of, and I don't think other women or men who are using this tool should feel ashamed either. Because if there's a tool that can help with your mental and physical health, you deserve to explore that without feeling guilty or ashamed.' Rohner added that she is now 'microdosing' the drug, explaining that she takes it 'once a month,' and is seeing a therapist to manage her mental health. Definitions of microdosing these drugs vary, with some people taking the drugs less often than the weekly prescribed dose — so, going every two weeks, rather than every week. For some using a compounded version or a version that comes in a vial rather than a single-dose pen, people may choose to take a lower dose than is officially recommended. It's worth noting that there is currently no guidance on microdosing these medications from pharmaceutical companies and Rohner did not share specifically how she is taking the medication. 'I never imagined my life would be under a microscope,' she shared. A day later, she posted a TikTok video insisting she is not 'asking for sympathy' as she further explained the situation. 'I'm trying to do the right thing,' she said, 'and I'm trying to be honest now.' 'If people felt deceived by that, I really truly am sorry,' she added. 'I am willing to do a refund for anybody who bought a class in the last 11 months.' Over on TikTok, Rohner's comments section is flooded with people criticizing her decision to sell and promote weight loss tools without disclosing a major reason behind her own weight loss. 'I'm sorry girl but I tried every diet under the sun and couldn't lose the weight until I went on a GLP1,' one wrote. 'This was pure deception plain and simple. You should refund people.' Another added, 'I'm on a glp-1, have lost 55 lbs (at goal) and I tell everyone! I didn't make people think I lost it by eating celery and carrots.' A third called out Rohner's most famous recipe: 'So we were eating bell pepper sandwiches for no reason ???' Comments on Rohner's initial YouTube video also called out the creator for dishonesty. 'As a fellow creator, I respect your right to privacy and completely understand that not everything has to be shared online,' commenter @Christinabtv wrote. 'But when your business is built around weight loss and you're charging people $200 for a course, transparency becomes part of the responsibility. Taking a GLP-1 drug while positioning yourself as a weight loss coach or influencer — without disclosing it — crosses a line. It starts to feel scammy, especially when people are trusting you with their money, time, and health journey.' YouTuber @emilycarlson6872 called the situation 'horrible,' adding that they looked up to Rohner for 'so many years' prior to the controversy. 'Is GLP1 a part of your macro planning for your clients? Is it part of the workout plan for those paying for YOUR services? Probably not… that part is behind the scenes,' they wrote. 'Also why are you playing the victim in this when you are the one that lied to so many people? Why are YOU the victim??? Your clients paying for your services are the victims here.' Some people, however, have come to Rohner's defense. TikToker @Nursemom wrote in the comments section of her TikTok apology video, 'RN here, also on a glp-1. I track macros, workout, I have PCOS so it's still VERY hard to drop weight even doing the right things. GLP-1 have other benefits apart from weight loss. Leave her alone.' Rohner's situation is unique in that she sold a weight loss plan without disclosing a medical reason behind her losing weight. However, she's not the only influencer who has come under fire for being less-than-open with their audience. Recently Remi Bader — who rose to fame on TikTok for sharing 'realistic' plus-size clothing hauls — was criticized for not disclosing weight loss surgery to her followers. And other stars, like Khloé Kardashian, have been called out for claiming healthier lifestyles are behind weight loss — despite speculation that they're also taking GLP-1 medications. 'Even if people get surgery or [get on] the Ozempic craze, I'm like, 'Who cares!' As long as people feel good about themselves, who am I to judge?' Kardashian said in an interview with Bustle in December 2024. 'I'm just mad [Ozempic] wasn't around 10 years ago.' But other stars, like Serena Kerrigan, have taken a different approach to the rumors about them taking GLP-1, admitting in a jokey TikTok video that, yes, that was a Mounjaro pen in her fridge. 'This is so real,' one commenter wrote on Kerrigan's post. 'I love it.'
Buzz Feed
28-04-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Here's Everything You Need To Know About Wellness TikToker Janelle Rohner's Weight Loss Controversy After She Admitted To Using Medication 'As A Tool' While Selling $200 Courses
TikTok influencer Janelle Rohner has addressed the immense backlash over her recent admission about her use of weight loss medication. For context, Janelle is a 37-year-old social media influencer with over 5.2 million followers on TikTok. She has spent years posting videos centred around health, wellbeing, and fitness, notably selling her fans a $200 macros course. The course is advertised on Janelle's website as 'a one time purchase' that 'will literally change your life and the way you view food.' Last week, Janelle posted a 5-minute video on YouTube titled, 'Let's talk: Therapy, GLP1 & The Truth About My recent Weight Loss.' In the video, she admitted that she's quietly been using a drug called GLP-1 as 'a tool to help' her lose weight. Medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which have become increasingly popular for weight loss, are classified as GLP-1 drugs. 'Over the last year, I have decided to make some new choices in my health. I started working with a doctor, and we did decide to add a GLP-1 to my plan,' she said, noting that she'd tried 'keto, macros, workouts,' and shifting her lifestyle. 'GLP-1s are not magic. They don't change your lifestyle overnight — it's just a tool to help,' she went on. 'I still had to show up: show up for my meals, track my macros, drink my water, go on walks, do my workouts — everything that I already teach and believe in. It just helped me regain a sense of control, and it's something that I don't want to be ashamed of.' 'I don't think other women or men who are using this tool should feel ashamed either. Because if there's a tool out there that can help with your mental or physical health, you deserve to explore that without feeling guilty or ashamed,' she said. 'After a few months, I had lost the stubborn 10 to 15 pounds. I was happy,' Janelle continued. 'I switched to microdosing for maintenance, and I would maybe do a microdose once a month.' Later on in the video, after opening up about going to therapy, Janelle said, 'The reason I'm sharing this now is because I always promised I'd be real with you guys and I'm proud of how far I've come.' Unsurprisingly, Janelle faced immense backlash over her admission, with people branding her a 'complete fraud' and demanding refunds for anyone who purchased her $200 course. 'When your business is built around weight loss and you're charging people $200 for a course, transparency becomes part of the responsibility. Taking a GLP-1 drug while positioning yourself as a weight loss coach or influencer — without disclosing it — crosses a line. It starts to feel scammy, especially when people are trusting you with their money, time, and health journey,' one YouTube comment read. 'It's not that she's on the GLP1. It's that she is selling a $200 course to people to help them lose weight when counting macros wasn't even enough for her to lose all of the weight she wanted to,' said another. 'There isn't shame in taking glp-1. The shame is when you fool your audience into thinking they can look like you if they eat and exercise like you do. Disappointing,' someone else agreed. 'Are you going to refund the money you made since starting to take the GLP1? The money you made during that time is based off lying to people who didn't deserve that,' one person questioned. 'A great reminder to us all that social media is not real. I sincerely hope people can be refunded for spending their hard earned money on a lie,' someone else wrote. Janelle later addressed the backlash in a TikTok video. Replying to someone who accused her of looking for sympathy, she said, 'I'm just trying to do the right thing and I'm trying to be honest now…I could have kept this a secret. I could have gone on and on for years and not told, but I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna be that person, I don't wanna be that influencer.' Insisting again that she still believes in tracking macros, and that she used GLP-1 'as a tool,' Janelle added, 'If people felt deceived by that, I really truly am sorry. I am willing to do a refund for anybody who bought a class in the last 11 months.'
