Oversized Out, Slim Fit Returns... Obesity Drugs Are Shaping Fashion Trends

Signs of Trend Shifts... Growing Demand for Silhouette-Emphasizing Styles
Concerns Over Return to Traditional Beauty Standards Amid Widespread Use of Obesity Drugs

With the spread of GLP-1-based obesity treatment drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, there is growing interest in body shape management, and analysts say this is driving changes in fashion consumption trends as well.

On June 6, Maeil Business Newspaper, citing data from 29CM operated by Musinsa, reported that an analysis of transaction data from May showed the transaction value of slim-fit T-shirt-related products increased by 212% compared to the same period last year. The transaction value for slim-fit blouses also rose by 147%. For bottoms, Capri pants, which are considered a key trend item this summer, saw transaction value more than triple compared to a year ago, while bootcut slacks and bootcut denim recorded more than a fourfold increase in transaction value.

Girl group LE SSERAFIM member Heo Yoonjin (left) and actress Jung Ryeo-won wearing Capri pants. Captured from Heo Yoonjin and Jung Ryeo-won's Instagram.

"Oversized Out, Slim Fit In"... Seongsu-dong Swept by High-Teen Fashion Craze

The fashion industry believes this shift goes beyond a fleeting trend and is closely linked with changing body image perceptions among consumers. While oversized styles prioritizing comfort and mobility were dominant during the COVID-19 period, there is now a growing number of consumers who prefer styles that naturally reveal their body lines.

The high-teen fashion craze, which is spreading around Seongsu-dong, also reflects this trend. American brand Brandy Melville and Italian brand Subdued are attracting consumers in their teens and twenties with products that emphasize slim silhouettes, such as crop tops, low-rise denim, and hot pants.

Industry insiders also cite the recent spread of obesity treatment drugs as one of the factors behind the craze for slim-fit styles. The analysis is that consumers who have successfully lost weight are actively seeking clothing that showcases their transformed body shapes.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of domestic prescriptions for Wegovy and Mounjaro in the first quarter of this year reached a total of 800,096. In particular, the number of prescriptions in March surpassed 200,000 for the first time, reaching 228,199.

The market size is also expanding rapidly. According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA, the domestic obesity treatment drug market grew from 143.6 billion won in 2021 to 242.6 billion won in 2024, and last year expanded further to 819.5 billion won.

In the United States, some retailers have been reducing the proportion of plus-size clothing following the spread of obesity treatments. The photo shows the online product page of 66100, a domestic plus-size clothing shopping mall. Screenshot from the 66100 website.

Fashion Industry Shifts Amid Obesity Drug Boom... Concerns Over a "Body Positive" Retreat

Similar trends are being observed overseas. U.S. broadcaster CNN recently reported that some retailers in the United States have been reducing the proportion of plus-size clothing since the spread of GLP-1-based obesity treatment drugs. In fact, the number of online plus-size products offered by major U.S. retailer Target fell by 37% over the past year, and Old Navy has also reduced its related product offerings.

There is also analysis within the fashion industry that the influence of the once-mainstream "body positive" movement is waning. In the past, there was a growing trend toward embracing diverse body types, but with the popularization of weight loss drugs, there is now a renewed preference for slimmer body shapes.

However, there are concerns that these changes may intensify social pressure regarding appearance. The Washington Post recently quoted medical professionals pointing out that the spread of GLP-1-based drugs could exacerbate eating disorders and appearance-related obsession.

An industry official said, "While demand for oversized fits has not disappeared entirely, there is a clear increase in interest in styles that accentuate the body’s silhouette rather than conceal it," adding, "Slim-fit tops, bootcut pants, and Capri pants are among the representative items benefiting from this trend."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.