For years, she battled an unyielding war within her own body and mind, trapped in the relentless grip of PCOS, weight struggles, and body dysmorphia. Each reflection in the mirror was a distorted enemy, a cruel reminder of the self-doubt and pain that shadowed her every step, even as she fought to find confidence and peace.
Then came a glimmer of hope—a lifeline in the form of Zepbound, a chance to silence the tormenting noise of food obsession and reclaim control. As the pounds fell away, so did the weight of despair, revealing a woman reborn with strength and determination. But just as the light began to shine, the cruel hand of lost insurance threatened to snatch it all away, leaving her future uncertain once more.
AITA for not disclosing how I lost weight?
As renowned researcher Dr. Brené Brown explains, “Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.” This situation highlights a classic tension between personal health autonomy and group expectations regarding transparency.
The OP’s history with PCOS, weight struggles, and body dysmorphia suggests a deep vulnerability regarding their body and eating habits. Sharing the use of GLP-1 medication like Zepbound/Wegovy is disclosing a highly sensitive medical intervention, especially given that their social circle had previously voiced judgmental opinions against such methods, labeling them as ‘cheating.’ The OP’s decision to conceal the medication was a protective mechanism intended to avoid anticipated criticism and judgment, which is a valid form of setting a personal boundary around sensitive health information.
However, the perception of ‘lying’ stems from the OP framing their success purely as ‘dieting and being active.’ When this narrative was corrected, the friends felt misled about the effort and method involved, leading to feelings of betrayal. The friend who called the OP an ‘asshole’ demonstrated a lack of empathy for the OP’s underlying health battle and medical needs. The OP’s actions were appropriate in protecting private medical data, but future communication could benefit from proactive boundary setting rather than total omission. When addressing similar situations, the OP could state upfront, ‘I am pursuing a medical plan for my health, and I will share details only as I feel comfortable,’ which manages expectations without requiring full disclosure immediately.
Ultimately, while the OP was not an asshole for protecting their private medical journey, the friends’ reaction, though harsh, shows a breakdown in accepting different paths to health. Constructive future interaction requires the OP to be firm about what is private, and the friends to engage with empathy rather than judgment regarding medical choices.
THE COMMENTS SECTION WENT WILD – REDDIT HAD *A LOT* TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE.
The original poster (OP) is facing significant emotional distress due to long-standing struggles with body image, weight, and binge eating disorder. The central conflict arises from their decision to keep their medically supported weight loss journey secret, which their friends perceived as dishonesty and a form of deception when the truth about using medication (Zepbound/Wegovy) was revealed.
Given the friends’ judgmental prior comments about weight loss injections versus the OP’s need for privacy and medical support, was the OP justified in withholding this personal health information, or did the omission cross the line into dishonesty that damaged trust within the friendship group?
