Do weight loss drugs coincide with eating disorders?

When someone loses weight, what is your first assumption?

It can be a range of things, but I bet your mind first goes to Ozempic or some other GLP-1 drug – I know mine does. But somewhere along the way, I think we’ve lost the plot, because where does weight loss end and an eating disorder begin?

What are GLP-1 drugs?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are medications initially created to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, it was found that higher-dose versions of the same medications can be used for weight loss, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

GLP-1 drugs impact the GI tract, pancreas, liver, heart, thyroid and brain. For those with Type 2 diabetes and other health concerns like cardiovascular disease, they can lead to improved glucose control, lower HbA1c, decreased risk of heart attack or stroke and decreased cardiovascular mortality.

At the same time, these medications can also reduce feelings of hunger and motivation to eat. According to NEDA, in 60-70% of people taking these medications, significant and sometimes rapid weight loss occurs.

This is of particular concern to anyone with an active eating disorder, a history of one or individuals with a high susceptibility of developing one.

My connection

I’ve seen first-hand from my own family members the effects of a GLP-1 drug. My mom is healthier, happier and way more confident after using Zepbound, an FDA-approved weight loss medication. However, the number of times she casually mentioned she only ate a clementine that day or forgot about lunch is astronomical. This worries me and increases my suspicion that drugs like Ozempic are no different from an eating disorder and can even lead to triggering one, or worse.

I brought it up to her and, surprisingly enough, she agreed with me that what she does is not very different from partially starving herself. She argued that she’s legitimately just not hungry and it’s not on purpose, which I believe.

But, how many other people are taking drugs like this who suppress their diet on purpose?

It makes me think about how we see food and eating disorders. When I skip lunch or don’t eat as much as I should, whether on purpose or not, people get worried and ask if I’m OK because that’s unhealthy behavior.

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However, when it’s because of a prescription, people don’t bat an eye.

If anything, it’s glorified like in mainstream media when celebrities walk the red carpet or make an appearance somewhere and they’ve lost weight. A lot of people post in the comments things like “Ozempic face” or speculate on how they lost the weight.

I don’t want celebrities to unknowingly (or knowingly) promote these medications for cosmetic reasons, further perpetuating the ideal of “thinness” and that you should be evaluated based on how you look.

I just worry that people are going to become attached to the way they look and feel while on the medication and not change their eating habits once off the drug.

Our culture could combat this by not idolizing a thin body and instead actually stepping into the body positive movement by accepting each other without any caveats. On a national level, I think the media as a whole should stop glamorizing weight loss drugs and joking about them because in the end it just attracts more attention.

This is an attainable endeavor, but everyone needs to work on it.

stumbata@miamioh.edu

Taylor Stumbaugh is a junior double majoring in journalism and media and communication. She is the Senior Campus and Community Editor for The Student. She’s also a copy editor for The Miami Student Magazine.