GLP-1 meds prompt rethink of obesity and eating disorder care
Obesity and eating disorders have traditionally been treated as separate areas of health care—but the rapid rise of GLP-1 medicines is increasingly bringing the two together. Adelaide University researchers say the growing use of medicines such as Ozempic and Mounjaro is highlighting an underrecognized overlap between the conditions—and raising important questions about who could benefit and who…
For years, obesity and eating disorders were treated as distinct medical issues, but new research is revealing a surprising connection. Adelaide University experts say GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are increasingly being used to treat obesity, and emerging evidence suggests these drugs may also have an impact on binge-eating behaviors in some people with eating disorders.
However, concerns remain about potential risks associated with these appetite-suppressing effects in certain patients. Professor Gemma Sharp, a leading specialist in eating disorders, emphasizes that the traditional separation between obesity and eating disorder care no longer holds true. Many people with eating disorders are not underweight, and they often go undiagnosed because the focus is primarily on weight rather than recognizing the disorder itself.
As GLP-1 medications become more commonplace, it is becoming increasingly clear that these conditions often coexist, and a more integrated approach to treatment is necessary.
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