GLP-1 weight loss drugs may be misused by patients with eating disorders: Study
A new study is raising concerns about GLP-1 weight loss drugs and eating disorders.
Researchers found that 32% of patients with eating disorders report having used a weight loss injection at least once, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry released on Wednesday.
This is more than double the 15% of the general population that uses a GLP-1.
Experts worry the drugs are being used as a tool to restrict eating or control weight in ways that can make eating disorders worse. This is dangerous because people with eating disorders are already at risk for nutritional deficiencies and disordered relationships with food.
Over 10% of study participants with eating disorders misused the GLP-1.
Misuse included taking more or less than a prescribed dose, using for a longer period than prescribed, tampering with injection equipment, and sharing with other people, like family and friends, without a prescription.
GLP-1s can be “incredibly beneficial in the right patient and potentially problematic in the wrong patient,” according to Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a board-certified physician in emergency medicine, toxicology, and addiction medicine.
“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,” Dr. Widmer also told ABC News.
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.
