GLP-1 drugs have become a pervasive option for those pursuing weight loss over the past few years. Many celebrities have openly admitted to using the drug to help shed stubborn weight and feel their best. But Oscar-winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique is skeptical of the long-term effects. She’s cautioning people against using them.
In addition to conversations about the side effects, a consistent concern in discourses about GLP-1 drugs is that they’re used to treat type 2 diabetes, but people are using them for weight loss. In a recent video, the actress aired her concerns, challenging people to think before using them.
“What is the long-term effects? What will it do to your body? Your mind? What will it do to us five years from now, 10 years from now?” Mo’Nique encouraged people to ask themselves. “And yes, you may look like a million dollars on the outside. You may get down to that size two or size four or that size eight or whatever that thing is. But I would ask you to research what you’re putting in your body.”
“They got us caught up in trends,” she added, saying people are being influenced by celebrities taking weight-loss drugs. Some of the latest stars to disclose their use include Serena Williams, Oprah, Vanessa Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg. A common thread is celebs turning to the GLP-1 drugs after struggling to lose and keep pounds off that came with getting older and having children.
Mo’Nique, who has struggled with weight fluctuations over the years, argues that using weight-loss drugs negatively impacts our willpower.
“This is what I will say and this is just my humble opinion,” she continued in the video. “They’re taking away our willpower. They’re taking away our fight. They’re taking away our ability to say, I believe in myself, I’m a trust the process.”
The actress ended her message by urging people to “love yourself enough not to be tricked.”
“Because we’re so easily tricked, especially us,” she said, teary-eyed, alluding to Black people being encouraged to do things that have damaging long-term effects.
The 58-year-old concluded her message by encouraging people not to get caught up in what they see.
“I’m not judging nobody’s decision because it is yours, however, I’m talking to the babies out there that is questioning things. Love you enough to trust your process,” she said.
The star is practicing what she preaches. In October 2025, she announced that for the first time ever, she was under 200 pounds. The actress has been vulnerable enough to share the ebbs and flows of her weight-loss journey, dating as far back as 2013. In 2025, she also launched a fitness campaign called “Monique’s Movement” on YouTube, which showcases her doing relatively short, moderate workouts with her wellness partner, Dwight Holt Jr.
There will always be hot takes around the use of weight-loss drugs, but ultimately it’s left to each individual to do what’s best for their health. Where do you stand on GLP-1s?