Social media influencer Janelle Rohner, known for sharing her weight loss journey online, recently admitted to using a GLP-1 medication—a class of drugs often prescribed for diabetes but increasingly used for weight loss. The revelation sparked criticism from followers who felt misled.
Rohner built a large audience by sharing low-calorie food hacks, like using bell peppers in place of bread, and selling a $200 course on macronutrients. However, in a YouTube video titled “Let’s talk: Therapy, GLP1 & The Truth About My recent Weight Loss,” she disclosed that her recent progress was supported by a GLP-1 drug prescribed by a doctor.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have grown in popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects. While Rohner emphasized that the drug didn’t replace healthy habits, many followers were upset she didn’t share this sooner—especially while promoting her paid course.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking one,” one commenter wrote. “But not disclosing it while selling fat loss courses is slimy.”
In response, Rohner apologized in a follow-up TikTok video and offered refunds to anyone who had purchased her course, Macros 101, in the past 11 months. The course, once linked from her website, included a worksheet, access to a private Facebook group, and a pre-recorded class. The link has since been removed.
Rohner defended the course, saying it remains a valuable resource and that she still tracks macronutrients and exercises daily. She told The Wall Street Journal that sales for the course have declined, with fewer than 30 purchases in the past year. She also noted she hadn’t promoted the class in over two years.
Explaining her initial silence, Rohner said she wasn’t emotionally ready to face public scrutiny over her body and weight. In hindsight, she acknowledged she should have been more transparent.
Despite the controversy, Rohner returned to posting regular content, including recipes and shopping hauls. But her comment sections remain divided, filled with jokes about Ozempic and criticism over her handling of the situation.
The backlash highlights a growing tension between online transparency and the personal choices influencers make—especially as GLP-1 drugs continue to reshape conversations around weight loss.
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