GLP-1 Medications & Eating Disorders
After fielding questions about GLP-1 medications from volunteers, group members, mentees, and on the helpline, ANAD has, with input from our clinical board members and scientific advisory board, assembled information relevant to anyone living with or recovered from an eating disorder or disordered with the hopes that we can enable folks to make informed decisions, care for themselves, and reduce the potential for harm.
Content last updated on April 3, 2025
The content of this page was written by ANAD Board Vice President & Director of Education Dr. Pat Santucci MD, FAED, FAPA and reviewed by the following members of the ANAD Scientific Advisory Board & Board of Directors:
- Dr. Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS, of Suncloud Health
- Dr. Erin Knopf MD, FAAP, DABPN, CEDS, of VERY | Virtual Eating Recovery for You
- Dr. Steve Prinz, MD, of Skyway Behavioral Health
- Dr Maria Rago, PhD, of Rago & Associates
If you are living with or recovering/ed from an eating disorder and your primary care provider is suggesting a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Mounjaro, it’s natural to have questions about how this treatment might fit into your recovery. Unfortunately, not much long term research has yet been done and critical questions remain unanswered. If you or one of your providers are exploring the idea of adding a GLP-1 to your care plan, it’s essential to approach these medications thoughtfully, weighing the potential benefits and risks with care.
No matter your reasons for considering these medications, we encourage everyone to be informed consumers. Risk can be mitigated by working closely with a healthcare team that understands eating disorders, and prioritizing long-term recovery and well-being.
When Considering GLP-1 Medications & Navigating Recovery
1. Educate Yourself
No matter the reason you or your provider are considering one of these medications, it is crucial to understand how they work, the scope of our current understanding, and weigh risks vs benefits.
GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda) are medications that help regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. They are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and weight management. However, some healthcare providers are prescribing them off-label to help reduce food cravings, compulsive eating, binge episodes, and more.
These medications may work by reducing cravings for highly palatable foods (like sugar and high-fat foods), increasing fullness, and slowing digestion, which can help people feel satisfied for longer. They may also influence dopamine pathways and stabilize blood sugar, which can play a role in reducing food-related urges.
While short-term studies suggest they may reduce binge episodes for some individuals, their long-term safety and effectiveness—especially for those with an eating disorder—remain unclear. It’s important to note that rapid weight loss or appetite suppression can potentially trigger or worsen an eating disorder, making recovery more difficult. Recovery involves being in tune with hunger cues, and establishing a pattern of regular eating. GLP-1 medications may disrupt that progress in some people. These medications decrease hunger through their effects on the brain and increase satiety by decreasing gastric emptying.
If you have a current or past eating disorder, please approach these medications with extreme caution and ensure you are working closely with a healthcare provider who understands eating disorders. Regular monitoring is essential to watch for side effects or the return of disordered eating behaviors. Rather than relying on medication alone (if considering for Binge Eating Disorder), focusing on sustainable behavioral changes, emotional regulation, and regular eating patterns is crucial—especially since most of the weight is usually regained if medication is discontinued.
If you are considering this option, please talk to a provider who truly understands both BED (Binge Eating Disorder) and eating disorders to ensure that your recovery remains the priority. Your health and well-being matter most.
2. Consider Risks vs. Benefits
Eating disorders are complex, and medication use can vary significantly from person to person. There is no formal FDA approval for Ozempic and eating disorders treatment, or any GLP-1 medications for eating disorders; off-label use shows some promise for decreasing binge episodes, but results are mixed. We do not know whether this medication will be helpful, harmful, or not impact individuals with an eating disorder.
Whether your reason for considering these medications is eating disorder related or not, it’s important to consider the potential impact on physical and mental health, and the impact it may have on current eating disorder behaviors or recovery.
Understanding Potential Risks:
- Common Side Effects Include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, GI discomfort, reduced appetite, and weight loss.
- Other Risks:
- Side effects might trigger a relapse, an onset, or worsening of ED symptoms.
- Rapid shifts in weight, satiety, and hunger cues, may destabilize recent or fragile recovery
- GLP-1s can cause weight loss that relies on continued use of the medication. Before starting one of these medications, it is recommended to have a plan for if/when you need to discontinue and experience weight rebound.
- Psychological impact of weight loss
- Impact of weight cycling, both physical and psychological
- Serious, but rare, medical complications (e.g., malnutrition, pancreatitis, gallbladder illness, thyroid cancer, kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances, refeeding syndrome).
- While research is limited, more patients are reporting muscle wasting – the loss of muscle mass and strength – associated with GLP-1 use
- Long-term risks remain unknown
Exploring Potential Benefits:
- Better management of diabetes
- Reduced cardiovascular and stroke risk
- Decrease binge episodes.*
- Emerging research indicates potential use in addictions and other disorders
*There is limited research to support this. See Allison, KC, Chao, AM, Bruzas, MB, et al
3. Consider Practical Factors
Those taking GLP-1 medications must be closely monitored while doing so. Beginning these medications represents a significant investment of time. Follow up appointments, tests, and ongoing monitoring are routine and necessary. For those with eating disorder concerns, monitoring should also include ongoing discussion with a therapist to alleviate the potential of eating disorder symptoms developing or worsening. Using standardized measures of eating disorder symptoms (for example, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire) might help you and your provider track changes in your eating disorder while on a GLP-1 medication. A cohesive and communicative team is crucial to success.
Insurance companies will often only cover or partially cover the cost for specific uses, and medication can be expensive.
When considering a GLP-1, you should be sure to take into account the investment of time and money, as well as suitability concerns.
4. Assess Suitability
Before beginning to use a GLP-1, ANAD strongly recommends that you speak with both a physician and therapist who are versed in both GLP-1s and eating disorders. Both should be aware of any ED history (including type, severity, stage of recovery, coexisting medical/mental health issues, past treatments) to help consider risks & benefits.
No matter the reason you’re considering these medications, work with providers to understand your options, and learn if there is another therapeutic approach or medication that may be a viable alternative.
5. Align use with Recovery Goals
When working toward or maintaining recovery from eating disorder(s) is a goal, you should clearly communicate that to providers on an ongoing basis.
No matter your reason for seeking GLP-1s, they should be used as part of a broader plan. Healing a relationship with food should be a priority, along with practicing skills learned in treatment. Medication is never a stand-alone solution.
6. Assemble a Multidisciplinary Team
Before beginning to use a GLP-1, ANAD strongly recommends that you speak with a physician, therapist and dietitian who are versed in both GLP-1s and eating disorders. All should be aware of any ED history (including type, severity, stage of recovery, coexisting medical/mental health issues, past treatments) to help consider risks & benefits. If a provider overlooks your ED, consider seeking a second opinion or advocate for a plan that matches your recovery goals.
No matter the reason you’re considering these medications, work with providers to understand your options, and learn about all therapeutic approaches or medications that may be viable alternatives.
If you do begin to use a GLP-1, advocate for a patient centered approach in collaboration with your physician, therapist and dietitian. They should clearly communicate with each other, coordinate care and share updates. They should all be aware of the new treatment plan and play a role in adjusting for therapy, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. They should be prepared to address new emotional and psychological triggers.
Establish a Safety Plan & Exit Strategy
Frequent & ongoing monitoring, a plan to address side effects, being on alert for new or worsening ED behaviors, and a discussion of new triggers should all be part of a safety plan. Establishing boundaries around weight loss and rate of weight loss at the start of treatment can help you and your providers ensure you are getting enough nourishment to support your needs throughout treatment. Medication dosage may need to be decreased or medication may need to be changed to a less potent alternative if you are not able to meet your body’s nourishment needs or your eating disorder recovery goals.
If you discontinue the medication, you may experience further weight changes. Well before that time, you and your team should discuss strategies to manage your health and recovery through that process.
7. Build a Support System
Recovery can be challenging—look for support groups, reach out when you’re feeling stuck, involve trusted friends or family, and maintain consistent follow-ups with your care team.
Eating disorders thrive in isolation, so being open with the people around you about your feelings, behaviors, and the impact of medications or other interventions can only help the recovery process.
Have you had experience with GLP-1 Medication? If so, please consider taking this survey helping us learn more about how folks with eating disorders and disordered eating have been affected by these medications. It takes about five minutes, and will help offer some valuable insight. It is completely anonymous.
GLP-1 Medications & Eating Disorder FAQs:
GLP-1 medications are a relatively new class of drugs that have been shown to have dramatic effects in the management of Type 2 Diabetes. In addition, they can be used to control blood sugar, delay the progression of prediabetes, and reduce the chances of stroke and heart attacks. They have been FDA approved to reduce chronic kidney disease and obstructive sleep apnea in certain patient populations.
The FDA has approved certain GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management along with chronic kidney disease and obstructive sleep apnea in certain patient populations. An FDA-approved drug is one that has undergone rigorous clinical trials and has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for specific indications, doses, and patient populations. The approval ensures the drug is safe and effective for the intended use.
Using medications for conditions not approved by the FDA (or in doses or populations not approved) is considered off-label use. While legal, off-label prescribing relies on clinical judgment, scientific evidence, and professional guidelines. It does not have the same rigorous testing and level of confidence as FDA-approved uses.
No. There is no formal FDA approval for the use of GLP-1s in the treatment of eating disorders. Nevertheless, this drug has rapidly gained popularity and is frequently prescribed off-label (which is experimental and based on limited evidence) as an anti-binge drug. While this medication may be beneficial for binge eating disorder and possibly non-purging bulimia, evidence remains limited and must be approached with great caution. GLP-1s for binge eating disorder or other eating disorders are still not well understood.
GLP-1 medications show promise in treating other conditions due to their anti-inflammatory and cell-protective effects. Emerging research suggests potential benefits for autoimmune diseases, addictions (e.g., fewer cravings for alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and food), neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), polycystic ovary syndrome, and certain cancers.
GLP-1 medications are not considered a first-line treatment for BED. That includes Ozempic for binge eating disorder, and other medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and more; they are NOT FDA-approved for eating disorders of any kind. In fact, research shows that it is often restriction behaviors that lead to binge-eating behaviors. Evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and nutritional counseling remain the gold standard to interrupt the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of this condition. Weight loss is not a treatment goal. Some clinicians may consider GLP-1 medications when other psychotropic treatments, including Vyvanse or SSRIs, have not been effective.
While short-term studies suggest they may reduce binge episodes for some individuals, their long-term safety and effectiveness, especially for those with an eating disorder, remain unclear. It’s important to note that rapid weight loss or appetite suppression can potentially trigger or worsen an eating disorder, making recovery more difficult. Recovery involves being in tune with hunger cues and establishing a pattern of regular eating. GLP-1 medications may disrupt that progress in some people. These medications decrease hunger through their effects on the brain and increase satiety by decreasing gastric emptying.
If you are considering this option, please talk to a provider who truly understands both BED and eating disorders to ensure that your recovery remains the priority. Your health and well-being matter most.
Yes, medical contraindications (reasons you may not be able to safely take the medication) include: personal or family history of medullary cancer of thyroid; multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome- type 2, a history of gastroparesis, and known serious hypersensitivity.
A detailed medical and family history is conducted, and monitoring for thyroid-related symptoms (focused on thyroid cancer) is done before the start of GLP-1 medication and monitored throughout treatment.
While there are no specific FDA warnings about using GLP-1 medications in individuals with eating disorders, many healthcare professionals exercise caution in anyone who may have had or have anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. They may avoid recommending GLP-1 for patients with a current restrictive eating behaviors, active bingeing or purging, severe body image issues, or unstable recovery.
Additional considerations—such as medical contraindications, lack of appropriate monitoring or support, or using GLP-1 solely for weight loss (potentially pointing to an underlying eating disorder)—may further influence a provider’s decision not to prescribe these medications.
Screening and accurate diagnosis are especially important in this context. Individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa (i.e., presenting in a larger body) or non-purging bulimia nervosa may be misdiagnosed as having binge eating disorder, complicating the decision to prescribe GLP-1 medications. Ensuring a correct, comprehensive assessment can help folks to receive the most appropriate treatment and support.
All GLP-1 medications lower blood sugar and promote weight loss but differ in dosing schedules, duration of action, side effects, and FDA-approved indications. Each has a dosing plan tailored to give individuals the minimum amount to meet needs.
- Liraglutide (Saxenda): A daily injection FDA-approved for chronic weight management.
- Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy): A weekly injection FDA-approved for chronic weight management.
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound): A weekly injection with dual action, the most potent for weight loss. Mounjaro is currently only FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, and Zepbound is FDA approved for weight loss.
GLP-1 Medications with FDA-approval to manage diabetes include:
- Duraglutide(Trulicity)
- Exenatide(Byetta)
- Liraglutide(Victozia)
- Lixisenatide(Adlyxin)
- Semaglutide ( Ozempic),( Rybelsus tablets)
- Trizeptide( Mounjaro)
There are a few small, short-term studies (a few weeks to 6 months) that suggest these medications may help reduce binge episodes, promote weight loss, and decrease “food noise” (persistent thoughts about food). Results are mixed, and not everyone will experience weight loss or change in their eating disorder behaviors.
Currently, evidence is clearly lacking regarding the full psychological and physical impact of GLP-1s. The way that Ozempic and eating disorders relate is not well understood, nor are wegovy and eating disorders, or any other GLP-1 and eating disorders. We simply do not know if these medications will improve, worsen, or have no impact on eating disorder behaviors.
Long-term studies are lacking, leaving questions about safety, optimal dosing, sustained weight loss, discontinuation effects, weight cycling, and adolescent development unanswered.
Without these long-term studies in place to provide answers, it is difficult to know how these medications will impact folks with eating disorders. With such limited research, prescribers and other providers do not know the impact a GLP-1 will have on eating disorder behaviors in their patients.
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and reduce cravings, helping individuals manage food intake. By delaying gastric emptying, they prolong feelings of fullness, while stabilizing blood sugar levels reduces cravings for sugary and high-carbohydrate foods, making impulsive eating easier to manage.
These medications also affect the brain’s reward system, dampening dopamine-driven responses and reducing the compulsive drive to overeat. High-calorie foods often become less appealing due to this lowered reward response.
Emotional eating often stems from unresolved emotional or psychological issues
GLP-1 medications act by:
- Enhancing satiety, the sensation of fullness, and prolonging fullness after meals.
- Suppressing Hunger Signals
- Modulating Reward Pathways
- Diminishing the appeal of highly palatable foods.
- Stabilizing Blood Sugar
- Preventing sugar cravings linked to glucose fluctuations.
The most common side effect of GLP-1s are Gastrointestinal Symptoms such as Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, especially at the beginning of treatment. Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) may cause bloating and stomach pain.
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and reduce cravings, helping individuals manage food intake. By delaying gastric emptying, they prolong feelings of fullness, while stabilizing blood sugar levels reduces cravings for sugary and high-carbohydrate foods, making impulsive eating easier to manage.
These medications also affect the brain’s reward system, dampening dopamine-driven responses and reducing the compulsive drive to overeat. High-calorie foods often become less appealing due to this lowered reward response.
Emotional eating often stems from unresolved emotional or psychological issues
GLP-1 medications act by:
- Enhancing satiety, the sensation of fullness and prolongs fullness after meals .
- Suppressing Hunger Signals
- Modulating Reward Pathways
- Diminishing the appeal of highly palatable foods.
- Stabilizing Blood Sugar
- Preventing sugar cravings linked to glucose fluctuations.
The most common side effect of GLP-1s are Gastrointestinal Symptoms such as Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, especially at the beginning of treatment. Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) may cause bloating and stomach pain.
Since much of the work of recovery involves re-establishing regular eating and an awareness of hunger and satiety signals, introducing a drug that alters those set points may undo progress and destabilize recent or fragile recovery.
Implications include:
- Reduced Hunger Signals
- GLP-1 medications can significantly decrease appetite, increasing the risk of restrictive behaviors such as skipping meals, eating smaller portions, or losing interest in food. This effect of GLP-1 medications is more intense with the newer medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
- For some people, the degree of decrease in appetite can conflict with the treatment goal of “regular eating” (e.g., three meals and planned snacks) commonly recommended for eating disorder recovery..
- Delayed Gastric Emptying
- Further GI discomfort (bloating, pain) or increased nausea can trigger or worsen purging behaviors, especially in those already vulnerable.
Because of the potential side effects, monitoring is required to manage side effects and adjust dosing. Patients will take the lowest effective dose, and the care team must all be kept informed of all changes. Any vomiting, especially, can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Monitoring helps patients:
- Identify their minimum effective dose
- Very gradually increasing the GLP-1 dose can reduce severe GI side effects, and decreasing the dose may be necessary if any symptoms persist.
- Track Hydration and Electrolyte Levels
- Vomiting is always dangerous. Managing any nausea and ensuring adequate fluid intake and stable electrolyte levels is crucial to prevent cardiac arrhythmias and kidney complications.
- Take Collaborative Approach
- Close coordination with a healthcare team (medical, nutritional, and mental health professionals) helps tailor treatment, manage side effects, and maintain balanced eating behaviors.
Yes. GLP-1 medications can sometimes lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney problems (often tied to dehydration), gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and in rare cases, thyroid tumors. Patients who experience severe abdominal pain, persistent nausea or vomiting, fainting, or dizziness should seek care immediately.
Since long term data are still emerging, the full scope of potential risks over extended use is not yet fully understood.
Yes. Off-label prescribing of GLP-1 receptor agonists (like semaglutide/Ozempic® and liraglutide/Victoza®) solely for weight loss—especially in individuals who do not meet the FDA-approved criteria —has risen sharply in recent years. While there are no precise, publicly available numbers (though poison control hotline data suggest that calls for overdose in GLP medications has tripled in recent years), anecdotal evidence, media reports, and prescription data suggest a substantial increase in off-label use fueled by social media buzz, celebrity endorsements, and growing public awareness of these drugs’ weight-loss potential.
The misuse of GLP-1 medications in the eating disorder population underscores the need for thorough screening before prescribing, comprehensive monitoring, and increased education among healthcare providers and the public regarding the potential impact on individuals with a latent or active eating disorder.
Common Concerns Include:
- Overemphasis on Weight Loss:
GLP-1 medications are marketed for weight management, which can appeal to individuals with eating disorders who may already be preoccupied with body weight and shape. This focus on weight loss can exacerbate behaviors and increase the risk of misuse. - Unsupervised Use:
Some individuals may seek these medications outside the structures of medical guidance, such as through off-label prescriptions or unauthorized sources, bypassing essential monitoring and increasing chances of negative effects.. - Triggering or Worsening Symptoms:
The appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying effects of GLP-1 medications can reinforce restrictive eating patterns, reduce interest in food, and heighten preoccupation with calorie control or weight, especially for those with restrictive eating disorders. - Social Pressure and Weight Stigma:
The societal glorification of thinness and the widespread availability of these medications for weight loss can encourage their misuse by individuals at risk of, or struggling with, eating disorders. - Limited Awareness:
Healthcare providers without experience in treating eating disorders may inadvertently prescribe these medications without recognizing their potential to trigger or worsen symptoms in vulnerable individuals.
The decision to use GLP-1 medications should be made cautiously on a case-by-case basis after a thorough evaluation. Ideally, this process involves a patient-centered, collaborative approach with shared decision-making between team members and patients.
Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging. Many weight loss specialists, pediatricians, and primary care providers may have limited training in eating disorders, while many eating disorder (ED) clinicians may lack familiarity with GLP-1 medications, type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
Without proper screening and expertise, individuals may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. For example, someone with a diagnosis of ‘atypical anorexia nervosa’ (individuals in larger bodies) or non-purging bulimia nervosa may be misdiagnosed as having binge eating disorder.
Perspectives on GLP-1 medications vary widely:
- Physicians unfamiliar with eating disorders may overlook the unique concerns shared by ED professionals.
- Even within the ED professional community, opinions differ. Some view GLP-1 medications as a valuable addition to a comprehensive treatment plan, while others worry they could trigger a latent eating disorder, cause relapse, be misused as appetite suppressants, reinforce weight stigma, or act as a “quick fix” to a complex issue.
GLP-1 medications are costly, averaging around $1,000 per month, and may require lifelong use. Their growing popularity has led to supply shortages, prompting some individuals to seek cheaper alternatives
There is no legal over-the-counter access to GLP-1 medications. While many licensed healthcare providers may prescribe a GLP-1 drug (if appropriate), you should only fill that prescription through a reputable pharmacy, and remain on schedule with follow up appointments.
Websites offering GLP-1 medications without a prescription are unsafe and likely illegitimate. Purchasing from these sources poses significant risks, including exposure to contaminated, expired, or counterfeit drugs.
Compounding pharmacies (pharmacies that can make a medication specifically for a patient’s needs. These are useful in cases where the patient needs a medication free of an allergen or needs a different dose than the preset medication. 1-3 % of prescriptions are compounded) also offer versions of GLP-1 medications, but the FDA has raised concerns about their purity, safety, and potency. Additionally, obtaining GLP-1 medications via unregulated sources without proper medical supervision can lead to inadequate dose adjustments, lack of monitoring, and improper management, putting the individual’s health at risk.
The effects of GLP-1 medications (including weight loss) often depend on continued use, potentially making it a lifelong commitment. There is currently no research on the effects of intermittent use. Discontinuing the medication typically results in a return to baseline levels.
Weight regain may, in part, be attributed to a lower metabolic rate (from weight loss) combined with increased calorie intake due to the return of higher hunger signals and diminished satiety. Approximately two-thirds of the weight lost is expected to return within the first year if sustainable lifestyle changes are not implemented and maintained.
Without consistent support and behavioral changes, individuals may revert to previous eating patterns. This can lead to anxiety about losing control over appetite and weight gain, potentially increasing overeating and creating a sense of dependency on the medication. For those with eating disorders, an emphasis on safety planning, practicing coping skills before they are needed, and therapeutic support should be emphasized well before the cessation of medication.
Weight cycling is the practice of losing and then regaining weight in a pattern. It has a significant impact on the body, including metabolic alterations, increased cardiovascular risk factors, risk of diabetes, and negative psychological factors.
The following strategies may help reduce the risk of weight cycling when medication is discontinued:
- Taper Gradually: If clinically appropriate, tapering off the medication rather than stopping abruptly may help the body adjust more smoothly.
- Address the Eating Disorder: Engage in evidence-based treatments while on the medication to address underlying eating disorder behaviors and patterns.
- Practice Regular Eating: Follow the standard nutritional approach of mechanical, regular eating, aiming for three meals and three snacks daily to maintain stability.
- Incorporate Exercise: Regular, enjoyable physical activity can help offset metabolic changes and support weight maintenance.
- Seek Support: Join support groups to stay motivated and connected with others facing similar challenges.
Before beginning a GLP-1 medication, you should have a care team (physician, therapist, dietitian) in place that is familiar with your history. You should review:
- Your Full ED & Medical History:
- How might specific aspects of your past affect medication safety and efficacy?
- Risks & Benefits:
- What side effects are most likely, how might they impact your ED, and are there potential long-term consequences?
- Monitoring & Follow-Up:
- How frequently should you meet, and which tests or measures will track your progress and well-being?
- Alternative Treatments:
- Are there non-medication approaches that might be safer or equally effective for your situation?
- Exit Strategy:
- What happens if you need to stop taking the medication, and how will that affect potential weight or ED symptoms?
By raising these questions and discussing them openly and honestly, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision about whether GLP-1 therapy fits within your overall eating disorder recovery plan.
This question answered by Dr. Erin Knopf of VERY | Virtual Eating Recovery for You
In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics informed providers that they may offer children as young as 8-11 years of age “obesity” weight loss pharmacotherapy. “Obesity” is diagnosed by BMI and frankly, the BMI equation and percentile ranges do not accurately depict the individual health of a child or adolescent. These medicines have been helpful for managing Type 2 Diabetes since the early 2000s, but studies on weight loss in younger people have been small and short. As a parent, it’s crucial to understand that we don’t have enough long-term data to fully support using these medications for children and teens. All of the studies cited in the AAP recommendations had minimal weight loss with significant adverse effects and the FDA approved these medications for “chronic-use” without data across the lifespan. Just like with adults, children might have to take them forever to maintain any “benefit”. But what are the costs? Imagine how your child feels when they’re nauseous or have stomach problems. Now think about them feeling that way every day. How will they socialize at parties or sleepovers? Take a moment and consider that choosing this form of treatment results in a lifelong decision about your child’s bodily function with thin research.
Another important point is that people under 25 should NEVER try to lose weight because their bodies are still growing and need consistent energy from food and utilized in activities. Even losing just a few pounds can slow down their metabolism, affect their growth, and lead to unhealthy eating habits. Most doctors aren’t aware of the harmful effects of intentional weight loss in young people. They only worry about the health problems linked to being heavier (though no study has shown weight as a direct cause). How a child functions and feels is much more important than how their body looks. We already know that trying to lose weight by dieting, exercising more, or using medications usually doesn’t work in the long run. Though weight loss has previously been recommended to reduce weight-based bullying, this is a dangerous message for children and adolescents and the risk of children that go on to develop eating disorders increases with intentional weight loss.
“If we prescribe treatments that don’t work for the majority of people who undergo those treatments, focusing a kid’s entire relationship with their health care provider on manipulating their weight (which will likely not be manipulated), we are conditioning them to think nothing matters as much as how much they weigh”
Aubrey Gordon, Maintenance Phase
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Richards, J., Bang, N., Ratliff, E. L., Paszkowiak, M. A., Khorgami, Z., Khalsa, S. S., & Simmons, W. K. (2023). Successful treatment of binge eating disorder with the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide: A retrospective cohort study. Obesity pillars, 7, 100080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obpill.2023.100080.
Robert, S. A., Rohana, A. G., Shah, S. A., Chinna, K., Wan Mohamud, W. N., & Kamaruddin, N. A. (2015). Improvement in binge eating in non-diabetic obese individuals after 3 months of treatment with liraglutide – A pilot study. Obesity research & clinical practice, 9(3), 301–304. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871403X1500037X?via%3Dihub.