The Super Bowl is always a cultural talking point in American culture, not just because of the game, but also because of the advertisements. This year, a 30 second advertisement sold for 8 million dollars, and many ads made a splash. However, the one that stood out to me was the ad from the company Hims and Hers. In their ad, they talked about how the American healthcare system kept people in place when it came to healthcare, how overweight and obesity are common among Americans, and how pharmacy has turned into a hundred billion-dollar profit system. They shamed big companies for producing weight-loss drugs that were expensive and unsustainable, then promoted their own cheaper, non-FDA-approved weight-loss drugs. Following this ad, there was backlash online about how this was incredibly tone-deaf to existing problems and solutions.

What is interesting about food and drugs in media culture is that they aren't an inherent part of feeling good; they are a part of looking the part of someone who is put together and is "quietly wealthy.”.” While people would like to think that we are better than using food as currency, this is actually a part of media culture. You have probably heard of Erewhon and the absurd prices of their groceries, ready-to-eat foods, and drinks. Online, there are plenty of Erewhon hauls and reviews, and many people spend upwards of 200 dollars a week on groceries, a luxury that many cannot afford. We live in a recession, and the upper middle class likes to show their wealth with nice groceries, which should be familiar, but it can be challenging for most families. Another point about weight loss and keeping in shape is that food is integral. Erewhon is known for having costly groceries, but they are also a Certification B corporation, meaning that they are, in the end, sustainable. But, their prices have put a noticeable gap between the working class and the upper class, with one able to get sustainable, clean food while the others struggle. 

Food has become a luxury, and now it comes with the body. Body shape has been used to indicate wealth and status for as long as we can recall. However, now drugs have also come onto the scene in our relationship with food. Ozempic was initially designed as a medicine for diabetes, but now, many abuse the drug for weight loss. However, the drug does not fix the root problem of food accessibility and the habits that unhealthy food has imparted. Up to the early 1900s, being big was used as a show of wealth because of how much it would cost to eat so much to gain weight. Now, with fast food being so cheap, the upper class has set the standard as being thin, as healthy food and weight loss drugs become more expensive. Now, food is being wielded like a weapon regarding money. As grocery prices continue to surge, food has become almost a luxury, and ultimately, while this could change in the future, this is just food for thought. 

02/24/2025