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Use (and Potential for Abuse) of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Medications Among Individuals with Eating Disorders: Empirical Review and Clinical Guidance.

Psychiatr Clin North Am · 2026

Last updated 2026-05-28

A review found that GLP-1 medications may help reduce weight and binge-eating symptoms in people with binge-eating disorder. However, experts warn these drugs could cause unintended harm or be misused by some individuals with eating disorders. The review highlights gaps in research and offers guidance for safely assessing and treating patients with eating disorders who may consider using GLP-1 medications.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalPsychiatr Clin North Am, 2026
Citations0
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Abstract

Limited available data indicate that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications may significantly reduce weight and binge-eating symptoms among patients with binge-eating disorder. However, experts express concern about the potential for GLP-1 medications to cause unintended harm or be misused among some individuals with eating disorders (EDs). The present review describes the state of the science surrounding use of GLP-1 medications in EDs, identifies key knowledge gaps, offers a roadmap for future studies on this topic, and provides clinical guidance to support the careful assessment and treatment of patients with EDs who may be considering the use of a GLP-1 medication.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 41708263 ↗