A shot towards change
By Ali Costellow
Abbey Casper has lost about 100 pounds from taking three different GLP-1s over three years.
A 25-year-old Illinois native and Western Kentucky University senior, Casper made the decision to begin weight loss medication because she felt insecure of gaining noticeable weight.
“I just starting getting really insecure about my weight and clothes fitting,” Casper said. “It was like, ‘I don’t like how I look anymore and I want to feel better about myself.”
A 25-year-old Illinois native and Western Kentucky University senior, Casper made the decision to begin weight loss medication because she felt insecure of gaining noticeable weight.
“I just starting getting really insecure about my weight and clothes fitting,” Casper said. “It was like, ‘I don’t like how I look anymore and I want to feel better about myself.”
Abbey Casper is a bubbly, giggly, outgoing person. The 25-year-old rarely stops smiling. “I’m so weird,” Casper said.
Using GLP-1s for weight loss has soared in popularity and become mainstream across the nation in the last few years, causing controversy about making women’s bodies trends and lessening the medicinal stock for those who need it for diabetes.
Bowling Green, KY was named “Ozempictown USA” by Bloomberg in 2024 due to the sheer amount of the town’s population who are on GLP-1s. Bloomberg found 4% of the Bowling Green population uses them, the highest concentration in the U.S.
Bowling Green, KY was named “Ozempictown USA” by Bloomberg in 2024 due to the sheer amount of the town’s population who are on GLP-1s. Bloomberg found 4% of the Bowling Green population uses them, the highest concentration in the U.S.
Casper inspects the bottle containing her weekly dosage of a semaglutide, a prescription medication meant to promote significant weight loss by regulating blood sugar, slowing digestion and suppressing appetite. Casper has been on GLP-1s generally for three to four years, and switched to this particular one about a year ago.
The “hers” box in which Casper’s semaglutide arrives to her every six months. Casper began her GLP1 journey sourcing her medication locally, but now orders it from the national corporation.
Casper’s first medication, Wegovy, was successful, but then her insurance stopped paying for it. This led her to her first attempt of semaglutide.
“It didn’t do shit,” Casper said.
She then tried a tirzepatide, which instead caused her to gain more weight. Now, she’s back on a semaglutide, which she still feels doesn’t help.
“It didn’t do shit the first time and it’s really not doing shit now.”
Casper used to locally source her medication and go to in-person check-ins, but has since stopped both. Now, her semaglutide is sourced from Hers, a national company marketed as a personalized weight loss program “that works.” Casper receives a six-month supply at a time, which she pays $1,200 for.
“It didn’t do shit,” Casper said.
She then tried a tirzepatide, which instead caused her to gain more weight. Now, she’s back on a semaglutide, which she still feels doesn’t help.
“It didn’t do shit the first time and it’s really not doing shit now.”
Casper used to locally source her medication and go to in-person check-ins, but has since stopped both. Now, her semaglutide is sourced from Hers, a national company marketed as a personalized weight loss program “that works.” Casper receives a six-month supply at a time, which she pays $1,200 for.
Casper takes the semaglutide once weekly. She pays $1,200 out of pocket for a six-month dosage, which she said doesn’t even think is causing any weight loss. She was on a semaglutide once before, and switched due to that. “It didn’t do shit the first time and it’s really not doing shit now,” Casper said.
Casper injects herself with the medication once weekly. To lessen skin sensitivity and bruising, she alternates between the stomach, thighs or arms. “It stings,” Casper said regarding if the medication is painful to take.
She injects herself with the semaglutide once a week, either in her stomach, thigh or arm. She said she alternates spots because of the skin sensitivity and severe bruising the injection causes, sometimes lasting for two weeks.
When she can, she prefers to inject in her thigh or stomach because they’re less visible.
“My arms don’t need to be getting more attention,” she said while grabbing her arm fat.
When she can, she prefers to inject in her thigh or stomach because they’re less visible.
“My arms don’t need to be getting more attention,” she said while grabbing her arm fat.
Casper realizes the dress she planned to wear to her college graduation may not fit her. “I no longer weigh myself because I don’t have a scale here and I ain’t buying one,” Casper said. “It’s not worth it.”
Research is still being done on the effects of GLP-1s, but recent finds reveal that potential long-term risks of using include muscle loss, decreased bone density and unknown ocular effects.
Casper said simple tasks like laundry can wear her out.
“Some days I actually have motivation,” she said. “Some days it ain’t there and I think it’s probably because of the medicine.”
Casper said simple tasks like laundry can wear her out.
“Some days I actually have motivation,” she said. “Some days it ain’t there and I think it’s probably because of the medicine.”
When she’s at home, Casper enjoys laying down and resting. “I feel better,” she said “sometimes.”
