The rapid growth in use of weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro is shifting perceptions of beauty, with experts predicting that future art may feature the 'GLP-1 face' — a gaunt, hollowed-out look resulting from rapid fat loss. This could challenge historical portrayals of fuller figures in art, from Renaissance cherubs to Rubens' paintings.
Professor Rosalind Gill of Goldsmiths, University of London, suggests that while the GLP-1 face is often viewed negatively, humans can find beauty in diverse features. She draws parallels to the 'heroin chic' of the 1990s and the reimagining of AIDS-related images as beauty ideals, noting that consumer culture may drive this new aesthetic into art.
Dr Michael Yafi, a paediatric endocrinologist at the University of Texas, presented research at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, speculating that weight-loss drugs will influence artistic portrayals. He noted that if Picasso were alive today, he might have painted the GLP-1 face, which can appear aged due to fat loss in the cheeks and under-eye areas.
Historically, obesity was viewed positively in art as a sign of wealth and status, but this changed in the 20th century with increased awareness of health risks. Yafi argues that understanding these shifting beauty standards can help doctors provide more empathetic care to patients with obesity.
However, art historian Bendor Grosvenor cautions against overinterpreting historical artworks, such as the Mona Lisa, which some have claimed shows signs of obesity or illness. He stresses that art is about more than mere likeness or health, and this principle applies to future art as well.
