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GLP-1 receptor agonists, sometimes known by brand names such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, are a group of medications increasingly prescribed for weight management. For some people, their use can interact with an existing or developing eating disorder in ways that are worth understanding. At ABBI Clinic, we can support people who are concerned about their relationship with food in the context of GLP-1 medication use.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that work by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. They reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness, which can support significant weight loss in people for whom they are prescribed. They are currently prescribed for people living with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and in some cases other conditions.
These medications are effective for many people and are an established part of clinical practice.
This page is not intended to discourage their use. It is intended to provide information for people who are concerned about how GLP-1 medications may be interacting with their eating, or who have a history of disordered eating and want to understand the potential risks.
If you have been prescribed GLP-1 medication and have concerns about how it is affecting your relationship with food, or if you are considering these medications and have a history of an eating disorder, speaking to a specialist is a sensible step.
For most people, GLP-1 medications reduce appetite without causing significant concern. For some, however, the appetite suppression these medications produce can interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities around eating in ways that are worth being aware of.
In people with a history of restrictive eating, the reduction in appetite caused by GLP-1 medication can sometimes feel validating, providing a physiological basis for not eating that is easy to justify.
What begins as medically supported appetite reduction can, in some cases, become a pattern of restriction that goes beyond what is clinically intended.
It is also worth noting that GLP-1 medications do not address the psychological relationship with food and the body. For someone whose difficulties with eating have an emotional or psychological dimension, medication alone is unlikely to resolve those difficulties and may, in some circumstances, complicate them.
The following are some of the signs that GLP-1 medication may be interacting with a difficult relationship with food or eating. Not everyone will experience these, and experiencing one or more of them does not automatically mean there is a problem. They are worth paying attention to and worth discussing with a specialist if they feel familiar.
If you find yourself using the appetite suppression caused by GLP-1 medication as a reason not to eat or feeling relieved that you can eat less without feeling hungry, this is worth reflecting on. Medication is intended to support healthier eating patterns, not to enable restriction below what your body needs.
If starting GLP-1 medication has been accompanied by increased anxiety or preoccupation around food, calories, or your weight, this may be a sign that the psychological dimensions of your relationship with eating need attention alongside the medication.
If the thought of stopping or reducing GLP-1 medication causes significant anxiety, particularly if that anxiety is linked to fear of weight gain rather than concerns about your health condition, this is worth exploring with a specialist.
For some people, GLP-1 medication can reactivate patterns or thoughts that were previously associated with an eating disorder. If this feels familiar, specialist support can help you manage that carefully.
Coming off GLP-1 medication, whether by choice or because it is clinically appropriate to stop, can sometimes be a difficult experience. The return of appetite after a period of suppression can feel disorienting, and for people who have developed a complicated relationship with food during their time on the medication, this transition may benefit from specialist support.
At ABBI Clinic, we can support people who are navigating this transition. If you are concerned about how stopping GLP-1 medication might affect your eating, or if you have noticed that your relationship with food has become more difficult since starting these medications, we are here to help you find a way through that feels manageable and safe.
The decision to stop or continue GLP-1 medication should always be made in conversation with your prescribing clinician. Our role is to support the eating disorder and psychological dimensions of that process, not to advise on the medication itself.
If you are concerned about your relationship with food in the context of GLP-1 medication use, getting specialist input early is always the right approach. Whether you are currently taking these medications, considering them, or in the process of coming off them, a specialist assessment can give you a clear and honest picture of where things stand and what, if anything, needs to follow.
At ABBI Clinic, we provide clinically led, evidence-based eating disorder care for people aged 13 and above. Our approach is compassionate, non-judgemental, and built around your individual experience. You do not need a formal eating disorder diagnosis to get in touch. If something about your relationship with food is causing you concern, that is enough.
For people with a complex relationship between eating disorders and GLP-1 medications, treatment requires careful clinical consideration and a plan built around your individual circumstances. Your plan may include:
Individual therapy gives you dedicated one-to-one time with a specialist psychological therapist. Sessions provide a confidential space to explore how GLP-1 medication has affected your relationship with food, appetite, and your body, and to address any underlying disordered eating patterns that remain present.
Group therapy sessions bring you together with others in a structured, facilitated environment. Sessions focus on shared experiences, psychological skills, and developing a more settled and sustainable relationship with eating, alongside any medication you may be taking.
If appropriate, Family therapy involves you and those closest to you in understanding how eating disorder patterns and medication use may be affecting your relationships and home life. Sessions aim to build a more supportive and informed environment around your recovery.
A specialist eating disorder dietitian will work closely with you to address the nutritional impact of GLP-1 medication, and support the development of a healthy and flexible relationship with food that does not rely on external appetite suppression alone.
Supported mealtimes within our Day Care programme provide a structured setting to practise regular, nourishing eating with your clinical team present. This is an important part of treatment for many people whose relationship with hunger and fullness has been significantly affected.
A Consultant Psychiatrist will be involved in your initial assessment and will provide clinical oversight throughout treatment. This includes careful review of medication, assessment of any co-occurring conditions, and consideration of the interaction between GLP-1 use and eating disorder presentation.
Our mental health nursing team carries out regular physical health monitoring throughout your treatment, including nutritional observations and general health checks. Nurses are present and accessible throughout treatment, providing consistent support.
Looking to learn more about eating disorders and GLP-1 medication? Find answers to our most commonly asked questions here or get in touch to speak with a member of our team.
GLP-1 medication does not cause eating disorders in the way that a virus causes an infection. However, for people who are already vulnerable to disordered eating, the appetite suppression these medications produce can, in some circumstances, interact with or reinforce difficult patterns around food. This is not the case for everyone, but it is a reason to be thoughtful about monitoring and support, particularly for people with a personal or family history of eating disorders.
You should not stop or change your medication without speaking to your prescribing clinician first. If you are concerned about how your medication is affecting your relationship with food, the right step is to raise this with your doctor and to seek a specialist eating disorder assessment. The two conversations can happen alongside each other.
This is an important question to discuss with your prescribing clinician before starting any medication that affects appetite. A history of anorexia or restrictive eating is clinically relevant when considering GLP-1 medications, and your medical team should be aware of it. If you are already taking these medications and have concerns, a specialist eating disorder assessment can help you understand how to manage the risks.
Yes. If you are concerned about your relationship with food in the context of GLP-1 medication use, we can provide a specialist assessment and, where appropriate, treatment to support you. We do not manage the medication itself, which remains under the care of your prescribing clinician, but we can provide the eating disorder support that may be needed alongside it.
Coming off GLP-1 medication is a decision for you and your prescribing clinician. If you are concerned about how stopping the medication might affect your eating or your relationship with food, we can provide specialist eating disorder support to help you navigate that transition. Get in touch to find out more about how we can help.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. Whether you have questions about our treatment programmes, want to understand your funding options, or are ready to arrange an assessment, we are here to help.
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