In recent years, medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy (GLP-1 receptor agonists) have been hailed as game-changers in treating type 2 diabetes, and more recently, obesity.
Originally developed to improve blood sugar control in diabetes, these drugs are now recognised for their ability to help reduce appetite, support weight loss, and improve other key metabolic and cardiovascular health markers. For many people, particularly those living with obesity-related health conditions, this represents a significant shift in the available medical support.
There’s even early, hopeful evidence that GLP-1 medications could play a role in the treatment of binge eating disorder, offering new possibilities for those who’ve long struggled with cycles of bingeing and restriction.
However, as demand soars and availability expands through private routes and online clinics, the conversation around Ozempic and eating disorders is becoming increasingly complex.
Because for people with a history of disordered eating or body image issues, GLP-1s may not simply suppress appetite; they may interfere with recovery itself.
As a psychologist specialising in eating disorders and body image issues, I believe this is a nuanced conversation we urgently need to have – one that holds both the promise and the potential pitfalls of these powerful medications.
What does the research say regarding Ozempic and eating disorders?
The research on GLP-1s is still unfolding. There’s early evidence that they help interrupt binge cycles or affect reward pathways in the brain. This research is both hopeful and encouraging, and it’s very possible these drugs could play a pivotal role in the treatment of binge eating disorder.
However, it’s still early days. And there’s almost no long-term research yet on what happens after stopping GLP-1s, particularly around psychological wellbeing, trauma, and identity. In fact, what we are starting to see, certainly in our offices, is that without engaging with dietary and psychological therapies, people often regain the weight and relapse into bingeing again after coming off these drugs.
This highlights a critical gap. When it comes to the long-term impact of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic on eating disorders, lived experience is, for now, outpacing the research.
The potential benefits vs concerns of Ozempic
For people with obesity-related health conditions, GLP-1 medications can offer significant benefits. They can support weight loss and improve cardiovascular and metabolic health markers when prescribed thoughtfully and supported properly.
However, the narrative isn’t solely positive. As well as the possible adverse side effects, my concern is that hope can become harmful when sold as a shortcut.
The way that GLP-1s are marketed as a “solution” or an “easy fix” is not only misleading, it’s dangerous. Especially for those people with complex relationships to food, body image, and control.
When someone has experience of an eating disorder, these drugs don’t just suppress appetite, they suppress some of the few remaining cues they may be working hard to reconnect with: the feelings of hunger, fullness, and nourishment.
Often, our clients are using food excessively as a way to soothe themselves or otherwise cope with feelings that feel unmanageable. Simply using these medications to treat what is seen as ‘a weight issue’ can be simplistic, limited, and in some cases, dangerous.
The rise of unsafe access to GLP-1s such as Ozempic
While GLP-1s are meant to be prescribed for individuals who meet specific clinical criteria, the reality is murkier. We’re hearing reports of people:
- Lying about their weight or medical history.
- Editing images to falsify ‘before’ photos.
- Exchanging tips in online forums about how to ‘game’ applications.
These issues highlight a growing concern with Ozempic and eating disorders, where unsafe access can rapidly escalate into clinical risk.
Another concern is that some people, driven by societal pressures and the allure of quick weight loss, may seek these medications without proper medical guidance. This can result in:
- Inadequate screening for contraindications, such as a history of eating disorders.
- Lack of monitoring for side effects and overall health.
- Potential exacerbation of disordered eating behaviours.
When thinness becomes the goal
One story shared in the clinic that stood out was a woman who began GLP-1 injections in the lead-up to her wedding. Not for health reasons, but to look “better in her dress”.
Already at a healthy weight, her use of the drug reflects a cultural and societal pressure to conform to unrealistic, narrow body ideals. This is a culture we have fought so hard to shift in recent years, and the use of these drugs in otherwise healthy weight individuals is damaging and dangerous.
This isn’t an anomaly. It’s sadly the new norm being shaped by celebrity culture, Hollywood bodies, and TikTok influencers whispering that hunger can be hacked.
In reality, when rapid weight loss becomes the goal, we ignore the complex, deeply human reasons people turn to food in the first place.
It’s crucial to approach these medications with caution and under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals.
There’s big money in making people feel smaller, and very little in helping them feel whole
GLP-1s are absolutely not appropriate for everyone, especially not for those:
- With a history of restrictive eating.
- Living with, or in recovery from, a restrictive eating disorder.
- Who have a high drive for thinness.
In general, please don’t consider GLP-1s as part of your treatment plan without the guidance, support, and monitoring of your healthcare professional.
The missing piece in Ozempic use for eating disorders
One of the most pressing issues, in my opinion, is the lack of integrated psychological and nutritional support for people using GLP-1 medications.
Yes, these drugs can suppress appetite and alter eating behaviours, but they don’t address the underlying emotional and psychological factors associated with eating and body image.
Nor do they instil the long-lasting behavioural changes often needed for weight management. There’s a possibility that weight could be regained after stopping the medication, which can negatively impact mental health.
Without proper support, people using these drugs may struggle with:
- Understanding and responding to hunger and fullness cues.
- Developing sustainable, healthy eating habits.
- Navigating emotional triggers related to food and body image.
- Navigating the transition off the medication can be challenging, both physically and emotionally.
For someone whose eating disorder is rooted in fear of food or weight gain, GLP-1s may reinforce the belief that thinness is always the primary goal, and worth any cost. The use of these drugs could worsen or reignite symptoms, triggering a relapse into old habits.
This concern was powerfully expressed by writer and someone with lived experience of eating disorders, Paulina Pinsky. She wrote in the Huffington Post,
“Let me be clear: Losing weight CAN be a body positive choice. A sustainable effort that takes time, not an instantaneous click of a button. Changing your diet, incorporating exercise, and negotiating the reality of a healthy lifestyle can be a body positive choice.
“But it takes time — it is not an overnight transformation. Because what happens when the drug stops and your hunger comes back? The cycle continues, up and down, up and down.”
The emotional role of food
For some people on GLP-1s, they describe a kind of emptiness once the ‘food noise’ goes away. So, the question is, if food was previously a source of comfort, distraction, or coping, what happens when it’s gone?
This ‘void’ is a real and under-discussed effect that I find deeply concerning. Without proper psychological support, it can leave people feeling unsure how to manage the emotions they once ‘numbed’ with food.
This is especially relevant for people living with an eating disorder. Disordered eating often coexists with other issues, including anxiety, trauma, low self-worth, or perfectionism. You can take away the food, but the pain remains.
However, there is a small window of opportunity here. When the food ‘noise’ quiets, and energy stabilises, it may be the ideal moment to:
- Begin therapy.
- Build new coping strategies.
- Or start planning for longer-term, overall wellbeing (including how to nourish your body), beyond the medication.
But if this window is missed – if GLP-1s are used without proper consideration or support – the outcome may be no better than a failed diet.
Moving forward: Health beyond weight
Overall, it is possible to hold two truths:
- For some, GLP-1s offer medical benefits and relief.
- For others, they represent risk, relapse, or reinforcement of a dangerous ideal.
What we need, is a space where both truths can exist – where weight is not automatically prioritised over wellbeing. And where people are supported to approach food and health with curiosity, self-compassion, and clinical care.
These medications are powerful tools, but they are not toys. Weight management today is being shaped as much by pharmaceutical profits as by genuine health concerns.
These medications require proper regulation, careful screening, and serious ethical responsibility, especially from those marketing and prescribing them.
As a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, I want to help reframe the conversation. From one obsessed with numbers on scales to one grounded in care, compassion, and curiosity about the role food plays in our lives. Because weight is not the whole story. And we must make sure our solutions reflect that.
A chance – and a choice
I’m not anti-medication. I believe in tailored, person-centred medicine, and for some individuals, GLP-1s might be part of a thoughtful, broader treatment plan.
GLP-1 medications are not inherently good or bad – they are tools that can be beneficial when used appropriately, but they’re not a ‘magic bullet’.
Despite the risks, some people may still choose to explore these medications, and for some, it might be the right decision. But that choice must be fully informed and clinically supported. It’s essential to consider:
- Individual health histories and psychological profiles.
- The importance of addressing the root causes of eating behaviours.
- The societal and cultural factors influencing body image and weight perceptions.
A final word
At Altum Health, we’ve been working alongside bariatric teams and GLP-1 providers to offer specialised psychological and nutritional support.
We help people rebuild their relationship with food, manage emotional eating, and create sustainable, healthy habits that support long-term wellbeing, not just short-term weight loss.
If you, or someone you know, is considering GLP-1s while also struggling with food, weight, or body image issues, please get in touch with Altum Health to find out how we can help. You can book a free, 20-minute consultation here.
Take care,
Dr Courtney
