GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Linked to Misuse Risk in People With Eating Disorders, Study Warns

A new study is drawing attention to potential risks involving GLP-1 weight loss medications and people with eating disorders.

According to research published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, 32% of patients with eating disorders said they had used a weight loss injection at least once.

That figure is more than twice the 15% of the general population that reports using a GLP-1 medication.

Health experts are concerned that some patients may be turning to the drugs to limit food intake or manage weight in ways that could intensify an eating disorder. The concern is especially serious because people with eating disorders may already face nutritional deficiencies and complicated relationships with food.

The study also found that more than 10% of participants with eating disorders reported misusing a GLP-1 medication.

Misuse included taking a higher or lower dose than prescribed, staying on the medication longer than directed, altering injection equipment, or sharing the drug with others, such as friends or family members, who did not have a prescription.

GLP-1 medications can be “incredibly beneficial in the right patient and potentially problematic in the wrong patient,” Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a board-certified physician in emergency medicine, toxicology and addiction medicine, told ABC News.

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“Eating disorder screening may need to become as routine as reviewing a patient’s medical history. Identifying active or past eating disorders could help clinicians determine who needs closer follow-up,” Widmer said.

GLP-1s are primarily for treating type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. They help the pancreas increase the production of insulin to move sugar from the bloodstream into cells and slow the movement of food through the gut, decreasing blood sugar levels and curbing appetite.   

Using GLP-1s for any eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, is not medically recommended.  

Researchers emphasize the urgent need for vigilance among prescribers, especially as access to GLP-1s expands. 

Board-certified psychiatrist and therapist Dr. Sarah Oreck explained that the key takeaway from this study is that “rapid weight loss can make it harder to recognize when an eating disorder is re-emerging, precisely because the changes are so often socially reinforced.” 

Recovery and asking for help can be challenging — seek out support groups and reach out to trusted professionals and friends or family.  

Dr. Samantha Aquino Calpo is a third-year family medicine resident physician at Cooper University Health Care and is a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.