"Loss of appetite." These words sound appealing to many. GLP-1-based medications, known as weight loss injections (GLP-1 receptor agonists or related drugs), suppress appetite, enhance satiety, and reduce weight. Originally developed for diabetes treatment, these drugs have now entered everyday life at an unprecedented pace as an option for "losing weight."

However, a decrease in appetite is not always a "good thing." In medical settings, due to the powerful effects of these drugs, issues resembling eating disorders or problems that don't fit traditional diagnostic categories are emerging. The point is not to conclude that "the drug directly causes eating disorders," but to acknowledge the reality that it can be a "trigger" for those with existing vulnerabilities, those exposed to diet culture and weight bias, or those who have experienced eating disorders in the past.

The structure of "being praised for not eating" accelerates with medication

GLP-1 drugs affect appetite, stomach movement, and satiety as a bodily mechanism. What happens then? Meal portions naturally decrease. Interest in eating diminishes. Some people experience gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or vomiting. This often directly leads to the "result" of weight loss.

This overlaps with the current societal atmosphere. Being thin is praised. Being overweight is seen as a lack of self-control. Justifications for thinness, cloaked in the language of health, abound. In such a world, if one can easily achieve a state of not eating—where the line between "lifestyle improvement" and "compulsion" blurs more than imagined.

Experts are concerned about the loop where appetite suppression supports "restriction," and restriction is reinforced as a "success experience." In eating disorder recovery, it's said to be important to have regular meals, regain the sense of hunger and fullness, and dismantle excessive value placed on weight and body shape. However, there are situations where the drug's effects may work in the opposite direction. Moreover, stopping the medication doesn't necessarily mean distorted eating behaviors or fears will immediately return to normal. This is because it's not just the body but the circuits of cognition and emotion that change.

What is a "new eating disorder": The struggle that doesn't fit a diagnosis

The article points out that healthcare providers are beginning to see "cases that cannot be explained by existing frameworks." It can't be explained by typical images like anorexia, binge eating, or compensatory behaviors alone. For example, even though the amount of food consumed is extremely reduced, the individual perceives it as "normal thanks to the medication." Even though weight is rapidly decreasing, those around them say "amazing" or "well done." Even though anxiety and fear about food are increasing, it appears as a success in weight loss.

What makes it even more complicated is that GLP-1 drugs have an "air of medical legitimacy." Unlike supplements or extreme diets, they have the authority of being "prescription drugs." This makes it easier for both the individual and their family to overlook warning signs. Inability to eat, vomiting, and nutritional imbalances are dismissed as "inevitable side effects." Consequently, the opportunity to address these issues as psychological problems is missed.

An era where the prescription hurdle has lowered: The "closeness" of SNS and telemedicine

Another point of discussion is the ease of access. With the spread of SNS advertising and telemedicine, information about these drugs reaches consumers directly. While this convenience is a benefit, it also tends to leave "appropriate screening" behind. If started without sufficient psychological checks, such as a history of eating disorders, strong body image concerns, depression, anxiety, or dependency tendencies, the powerful effects of the drug may work in a dangerous direction.

In particular, cases of vomiting and nausea can trigger a relapse for those who have had binge-purge or vomiting-related eating disorders in the past. The intertwining of physical and psychological symptoms can make it difficult to determine whether it's a "side effect of the drug" or a "relapse of an eating disorder."

The "potential for treatment" is also discussed: Effects on binge eating and research limitations

On the other hand, the debate surrounding GLP-1 drugs is not simply about good or bad. There are voices from individuals who say their binge eating and impulsive eating have been reduced, and their strong cravings for food have calmed down. Indeed, small-scale studies and reviews suggest the potential of GLP-1s to reduce binge episodes. However, the research is still small, and many studies are short-term. It's not definitively clear how it affects long-term, what happens after stopping, who benefits, and who is at high risk.

That's why it's necessary to have both expectations and caution. There are people for whom the drug is helpful. However, just because it has the potential to be helpful doesn't mean it's safe for everyone. Eating disorders cannot be measured by "weight." There are cases of anorexia where the appearance is not thin, and even if the weight hasn't decreased, the mind may be cornered.

Reactions on SNS (Trends in Representative Voices)

From here, we organize noticeable reactions on SNS and in communities as "trends." The division of opinion is because GLP-1 drugs touch on themes that affect not only the "body" but also "values."

1) "Scary," "My past is triggered"—Fear of relapse and empathy

From those with experience of eating disorders or in recovery, there are many voices saying, "I'm scared of losing my appetite," and "Being praised is the most dangerous." The more weight loss is praised, the harder it is to issue warning signals. Even if the individual is aware of the "danger," there is a structure where those around them won't stop them.

2) "There are also aspects of being saved"—Voices saying binge eating and impulses have calmed

On the other hand, there are strong reactions saying, "My obsession with food has quieted," and "The noise of food that was always in my head has reduced." For those who have struggled with binge eating impulses, the drug's effects are sometimes described as a "sense of liberation." However, even from this group, there are noticeable opinions with conditions like "carefully with healthcare providers" and "including mental care."

3) Growing caution among healthcare professionals: Lack of screening

In communities of healthcare providers and therapists, practical concerns like "easily judged by BMI," "eating disorders are easily overlooked," and "the boundaries are difficult" are being discussed. Especially, cases where severe restriction occurs even if the weight is in the "normal range," and the so-called "atypical" cases that are hard to see are repeatedly mentioned.

4) "Diet culture weaponized drugs"—Criticism of society and anger towards weight bias

There are also many posts that focus on society's reception rather than the GLP-1 drugs themselves. Anger towards how weight bias is amplified through healthcare and advertising, like "pressure to be thin under the guise of health" and "punishment for being fat." There is a question raised about whether the spread of these drugs is strengthening the atmosphere of "it's normal to be thin" and raising the risk of eating disorders.

5) "Isn't this an overreaction?"—Backlash against the argument of personal responsibility and caution

Of course, there are voices opposing the warnings themselves. Concerns like "There are people who have regained health with the drug" and "Those who need it will shrink away." Here, it's important to organize the idea that pointing out risks ≠ denying use. What's needed is "condition setting" rather than "prohibition"—in other words, pre-evaluation, monitoring during medication, and the integration of nutritional and psychological support.

6) "Warnings like those on cigarettes are needed"—Demands for regulation, labeling, and advertising

Finally, there is a growing demand for regulation of advertising and sales channels. The ease of SNS advertising and telemedicine makes it easy to reach vulnerable individuals. Therefore, there are noticeable opinions calling for measures on the system side, such as alerts for those with a history of eating disorders or strong body image concerns, mandatory screening, and referral routes to specialists.

So, what should be done: A "realistic bulwark" individuals can create

The question posed by this article is not just "whether or not to use the drug." If used, how to use it safely.

• Create an environment where past eating disorders (not just diagnosis, but excessive restriction, binge eating, vomiting, strong guilt, etc.) can be honestly shared before starting

• Regularly check not only weight but also eating patterns, mood, fear of food, and body image distortion

• Treat ensuring protein, micronutrients, and meal frequency as a separate KPI from "weight loss," assuming nutrition may drop

• If praise like "You've lost weight" is painful, communicate the impact of words to those around you (difficult but highly effective)

• If thoughts about food and body start to dominate, don't just dismiss it as a "side effect," but connect early with professionals who understand eating disorders

GLP-1 drugs change weight. But it's not just weight that changes. They touch on invisible aspects like the dining table landscape, self-evaluation, sensitivity to others' gazes, and guilt circuits. That's why the debate is heated.

"Effective drugs" have moments when they are "too effective." Can we design "safe usage" on the side of healthcare and society without leaving those moments to individual responsibility? The controversy surrounding GLP-1 ultimately questions what kind of health and body image we share as a society.

Source URL

・The medical field's indication that GLP-1 drugs may lead to "new eating disorders," expert comments, and points like lack of screening
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/glp1-eating-disorders-b2914824.html

・National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Points of caution regarding GLP-1 drugs and eating disorders, lack of research, potential conflicts with recovery processes
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/glp-and-eating-disorders/

・ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders): Points on how GLP-1 drugs can worsen eating disorders, limitations of short-term studies, and impacts on recovery
https://anad.org/glp-1-medications-eating-disorders/

・National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC, Australia): Coexistence of diabetes and disordered eating, and general explanation of GLP-1 drug mechanisms (background data)
https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/other-learning/eating-disorders-and-glp-1ra

・Academic review (PMC): Research trends on GLP-1 receptor agonists and binge eating/related symptoms (background of possibilities and limitations)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10915596/

・American Psychological Association (APA) Monitor: Overview of research trends following the mental impact (both positive and negative) of GLP-1 drugs
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/07-08/weight-loss-drugs-mental-health

・The Guardian (supplementary points): Social debate over the impact of GLP-1 drugs on individuals with eating disorders, cases, and concerns about ease of access
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/04/ozempic-semaglutide-eating-disorders

・Reference to SNS reactions (examples of X posts): Raising awareness and sharing information on GLP-1 and eating disorder risks (an example of representative posts)
https://x.com/nclarkrd/status/1910650390309110268
https://x.com/Gillian_RD/status/1913998635164963313
https://x.com/BevTchangMD/status/1868864204641648699

・Reference to SNS reactions (examples of Reddit threads): Discussions in healthcare provider and patient communities (boundaries, oversight, sharing field experiences)
https://www.reddit.com/r/medicine/comments/12wj1yd/glp1_treatment_when_does_it_cross_the_line_into/
https://www.reddit.com/r/therapists/comments/1awoddn/eating_disorder_therapists_how_are_we_handling/
https://www.reddit.com/r/antidietglp1/comments/1newiq3/considering_starting_a_glp1_to_help_treat_ed/