GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medications that were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. In recent years, they have been licensed for use in weight management in different circumstances. You may have seen them referred to as ‘GLP-1s’ or ‘weight loss injections’ or ‘weight loss jabs’. They include medicines such as Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
They work in different ways, for example through appetite regulation, slower digestion, and improved blood sugar control.
We don’t have enough research into the relationship between GLP-1 medications and eating disorders yet. But we do know that they are likely to be attractive to people with eating disorders, which can affect people at any weight.
We have seen an increase in people contacting us about weight loss programmes and/or medication, and this is from people who struggle with different types of disordered eating behaviours, including bingeing and restricting.
GLP-1 medications are helping researchers to understand more about how our bodies control hunger and eating. However, eating disorders are serious mental illnesses and about more than appetite alone. This means that for people with eating disorders, they could:
You might have seen stories and studies suggesting that GLP-1 medications could be helpful for some people with an eating disorder. There isn’t enough evidence to confirm this, and it is important to remember that these medications are not currently recommended for the treatment of an eating disorder.
People are able to access GLP-1s through different routes, including through the NHS and privately via different pharmacies. We’ve seen an increase in people being prescribed the medications without thorough checks, and this is concerning.
Before someone is prescribed the medication, there needs to be a detailed eating disorders assessment, to make sure decisions about treatment are as safe as possible. These conversations should be held in a comfortable environment for people to share any current or past concerns.
There are lots of guidelines about prescribing GLP-1 medications, and it is important that these are followed. For example, the General Pharmaceutical Council (whose remit includes England, Scotland, and Wales) instructs that a prescription can’t be provided after only reading a patient questionnaire. Instead, there must be a proper two way consultation with the patient. The consultation must include independently verifying someone’s BMI.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Pharmaceutical Council Northern Ireland, and other regulators published a joint statement that explains the different principles that are expected for prescribing safely online.
If someone is prescribed the medication, they should be offered regular support, so that if they do develop or relapse into an eating disorder, they have the right support in place. This should also apply after a prescription comes to an end.
It is illegal to advertise prescription medicines in the UK, and this includes paid-for ads on social media, adverts on the internet, and leaflets. This means that you should not be seeing adverts for GLP-1s, and we’re calling to ensure that prescribers and pharmacies adhere to this law.
We’re also seeing people sell these medications via salons or on social media. This is dangerous because it is unclear what is actually being sold, and it is also illegal. We need action to make sure that the medications are only available through regulated routes.
If you’re thinking of taking GLP-1 medication, it’s important that you speak to a healthcare professional like your GP if you have experience of an eating disorder.
If you’re taking GLP-1 medications and have an eating disorder but haven’t shared this, we recommend speaking to the person who prescribed you the medication as soon as possible. They can talk to you about what support might be available.
The General Pharmaceutical Council have a page on their website with some frequently asked questions about the medications that might be useful.
A group of regulators and organisations including the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland have also published a guide to keeping safe when getting medicines or treatments online, that you can access on their website.
We’ve also worked with the GPhC on information and advice for pharmacy teams who are providing weight management medicines.
If you’ve seen an advert that is promoting prescription only medicines, you can complain to the Advertising Standards Authority via their website.
You can also contact our Helpline for more advice and information if you’re worried about yourself or someone else.