Whitney Thore surprised viewers in the Season 13 conclusion of My Big Fat Fabulous Life when she brought up GLP-1 drugs during a conversation in Salem, Massachusetts. She has spent years advocating for body acceptance, demonstrating that happiness does not come from fitting into society's slim pants. Whitney, however, has PCOS, which makes managing weight, hormones, and fertility challenging.
Her friend, Ashley Baynes, shared a shocking story about her cousin, who had been overweight and was trying to have children. Bayes went further to state that the said cousin tried GLP-1 injections, lost 40 pounds, and then became pregnant. Whitney made it clear she’d never take a drug just to slim down.
However, when the conversation moved to fertility, her response changed. She wondered if it would be worthwhile to create a family. Whitney's problem was no longer about body positive vs body alterations, but rather about public image versus private ambitions.
My Big Fat Fabulous Life: What is Whitney Thore’s medical perspective?
Baynes explained how her cousin's weight-loss journey unexpectedly led to pregnancy on My Big Fat Fabulous Life.
"She got married a couple years ago and was trying to have kids and could not," Baynes told Thore.
The cousin started GLP-1 injections solely for weight management. She dropped 40 pounds quickly and became pregnant soon after. Her doctor attributed the pregnancy to hormone regulation from the medication.
"Apparently, her doctor said it's probably just that the shot regulated her hormones and regulated her insulin," Baynes continued.
Whitney Thore perked up when doctors explained how GLP-1 medications could help people with PCOS. Since she has the condition herself, the science hit close to home.
Whitney explained that PCOS is like juggling a bunch of problems at once with hormone swings, weight issues, insulin resistance, and fertility struggles all piled together. So when she heard that one medicine could hit most of those targets while also lowering inflammation, her ears perked up. It sounded like something that might actually make her daily life easier.
But then came the tricky part. Whitney has spent years telling people to love themselves at any size, so the idea of using medication just to lose weight felt wrong to her. That didn’t match the message she’s always stood for. Still, she admitted that if the same drug could help her have a baby, she’d be open to trying it.
This made her stop and really think. There’s a big difference between taking something for appearance and taking it for health. But she worried that people might see her choice on My Big Fat Fabulous Life as turning her back on the body acceptance movement. It left her wondering if chasing her dream of motherhood might clash with the identity she built and the community she’s always supported.
Whitney takes action after the conversation
The conversation on My Big Fat Fabulous Life motivated Thore to seek professional medical advice. She decided to schedule an appointment with her doctor to discuss GLP-1 options.
Her decision process prioritized other medical benefits like using GLP-1 for pregnancy over weight-loss effects. This approach aligns with treating underlying medical conditions rather than losing weight. Thore hasn't publicly confirmed starting any GLP-1 medications. However, recent social media posts showing apparent weight loss prompted fan speculation and praise.
Many My Big Fat Fabulous Life viewers appreciated her honest discussion about balancing advocacy with personal health choices. The conversation continues broader debates about medication, body image, and reproductive health. Thore's openness helps normalize these complex decisions for others facing similar struggles.
You can watch My Big Fat Fabulous Life on TLC and stream it on Discovery+.