An influencer received backlash after admitting she used a weight loss medication while selling a health program. Critics said her lack of transparency misled millions of followers who trusted her.
Fans recently discovered wellness influencer and nurse Janelle Rohner used a GLP-1 medication to aid her weight loss.
She had not disclosed that information while selling her self-created meal plan course, “Macros 101,” for $200 — a product initially listed as “no refunds, final sale.”
Rohner has over 5.9 million followers combined across TikTok and Instagram, where she built her platform on healthy recipes, gym workouts and lifestyle content. Much of her content was positioned as a natural transformation journey, without mention of medical assistance.
Fans question Janelle Rohner
In a Q&A video on social media, Rohner responded to a question about whether she was using GLP-1 medications and directed people to a YouTube video, where she confirmed:
“Over the last year, I have decided to make some new choices in my health,” Rohner said. “I started working with a doctor and we did decide to add a GLP-1 to my plan.”
Fans expressed anger over what they said was a lack of transparency, while others offered support and emphasized that GLP-1s can be an effective tool when used responsibly and in conjunction with healthy habits.
What are GLP-1 medications?
GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, are prescribed to help regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite. They are widely used by people with type 2 diabetes and increasingly by those wanting to lose weight.
However, medical experts caution that these drugs can lead to serious side effects.
Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, but rare conditions like Ozempic foot — which is linked to circulation issues — and temporary vision loss or blindness have been reported.
Rohner responds to criticism
In the comments of her TikTok, one follower asked if Rohner had refunded anyone who purchased her program. Rohner replied, “Yes.”
She later addressed the controversy more directly in another video on TikTok, and she’s trying “to be honest now.
“I could’ve kept this a secret,” Rohner said. “I could have gone on and on for years and not told, and I don’t want to do that.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has strict rules that require influencers to disclose when they’re paid to promote a product or receive free goods. But Rohner didn’t promote a third-party brand — she was selling her own course. Whether selling a health plan while using another drug for weight loss is deceptive marketing isn’t clear.
FTC guidelines emphasize sponsored content disclosure, but don’t explicitly require influencers to share personal medical decisions.
