Most women have struggled with their weight, from childhood to adulthood. As early as 16 years old, women are finding ways to start a fitness journey, engage in healthy eating and weight gain. The internet trend of bigger thighs and bigger butts has become an obsession of young black women. The talk of Apetamin flooded Instagram timelines with over 120,000 related posts and excellent customer reviews.
Breaking into the mainstream
through social media apps like Tik Tok and Instagram, Apetamin is one of the
most popular products in Trinidad. Primarily black women are seen
experimenting with the product, achieving their favorite social media
influencer’s hourglass body shape. Apetamin is featured in beauty channels on
YouTube and fitness regime, disguised as a vitamin booster or a dietary
supplement.
The product search generated the
following characteristics:
1. An
Indian pharmaceutical company manufactures Apetamin
2. It
is used in treatments for anorexia, severe malnutrition and relieves allergy
symptoms
3. Persons
can only buy it on Instagram since Amazon has discontinued the sale
4. The
side effects are drowsiness, joint swelling, hallucinations, and weight gain
5. Apetamin is not FDA approved by the US as a drug
The influential marketing campaign has encouraged women to
start a weight gain journey using the product. Studies have shown that the side
effects (weight gain) have prompted women to use it for cosmetics purposes.
Is Apetamin Good or Bad?
With all the worrying side effects, Apetamin is so popular
that Instagram suppliers have a waiting list. There are rumors of fake versions
of the product. Recent studies in the U.S. have shown that black women
displayed adverse effects like blackouts, worsened pre-existing health
conditions, and vomiting.
On social media, influencers have
made the product appealing to women and motivate them to achieve beauty
standards. Many women spoke highly of the product and neglected to mention the
drowsiness. During an interview, one woman (Trinidadian) gave full details of
the product and her weight gain journey.
She received Apetamin in 2018
from a friend living in New York. She had one week supply and became
inconsistent with the dosage. Still, she saw results within days and felt
confident of the achievement. During the week of administering the dosage, the
side effects became unbearable, and she discontinued the use of the product.
“I was aware of the drowsiness,
but it was like taking sleeping pills. I was asleep for 18hrs straight. Adding
to that, I had a dry mouth, swollen tongue, and extreme moodiness.”
In disappointment, she also
mentioned her tummy weight was uncomfortable and feared long-term health concerns
(liver disease) with the product. Today, she struggles to maintain the weight
gain but plans to develop a healthy meal plan with exercise.
Many women have felt pressured to
have ‘slim thick’ body shapes on social media. There should be a concern about
the misuse of Apetamin to protect our women and young girls from abusing it.
That’s where self-love comes into play. Social media influencers should use
their platform to encourage self-love and motivated women to develop a healthy
lifestyle.
Comments
Post a Comment