Unless you’ve been completely offline, you’ve probably heard about GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s). Maybe you even know someone who has lost a significant amount of weight while taking them. Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have become incredibly popular, marketed as game-changers for diabetes management and, more recently, for weight loss.
But as tempting as it may be to see these medications as a quick fix for body image struggles, it’s worth pausing to ask: Will weight loss actually bring the lasting peace and freedom you’re looking for?
How GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Work
GLP-1s mimic a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1. They work by:
- Slowing digestion, which prolongs the feeling of fullness.
- Suppressing appetite by acting on areas of the brain that regulate hunger.
- Stimulating insulin production and reducing glucagon release, helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
These mechanisms often lead to reduced food intake and, in turn, weight loss. Although the newer versions are causing more weight loss than the older versions, it’s also at a much higher dose, and higher doses usually also mean more side effects.
What’s the Catch?
If you’ve spent years struggling with body image and diet cycling, it’s understandable why the promise of significant weight loss might sound appealing. But before making a decision, it’s crucial to understand the full picture—including the risks, limitations, and the reality of what happens when weight loss slows or reverses.
Some potential downsides of GLP-1s include:
- Unpleasant side effects: Nausea, vomiting, burping, diarrhea, constipation, and persistent gut motility issues.
- Serious health concerns: Recent research suggests an increased risk of severe gastrointestinal problems, including some that require hospitalization.
- Weight regain: Most people regain lost weight if they stop taking the medication, which can be emotionally challenging.
- Financial burden: These medications are expensive and may not be covered by insurance for weight loss alone.
- Medical bias: Individuals in larger bodies may experience unreported side effects due to fear of weight stigma in healthcare settings.
- Diminishing returns: The weight loss effects often plateau, requiring higher doses to maintain results.
The Hidden Cost: Disrupting Body Trust
One of the less discussed but deeply significant effects of GLP-1s is how they impact your relationship with food and your body.
Losing Touch with Hunger and Fullness
These medications suppress appetite and slow digestion so effectively that people may stop feeling hunger altogether. While this might seem like a win in a culture obsessed with eating less, hunger is a fundamental biological cue. Over time, losing connection with your hunger and fullness signals can erode trust in your body—the very thing intuitive eating helps to rebuild.
Complicating Eating Disorder Recovery
For those with a history of disordered eating, GLP-1s can be particularly risky. The praise and external validation that often accompany rapid weight loss can reinforce restrictive patterns and make it harder to recover from harmful dieting behaviors.
The Illusion of “Quieting Food Noise”
Many people seek GLP-1s hoping to reduce obsessive thoughts about food, but there’s a key distinction between true food freedom and simply being too nauseous or full to eat. Learning how to navigate hunger, fullness, and satisfaction is essential to a peaceful relationship with food. These medications don’t address the underlying beliefs and anxieties around eating—they only mute them temporarily.
The Real Work: Redefining Health, Beauty, and Worth
If you’ve spent years feeling like your body is a problem to be solved, the idea of finally “fixing” it can feel incredibly compelling. But sustainable well-being isn’t about shrinking your body—it’s about changing how you see yourself.
Health, confidence, and self-worth don’t come from a lower number on the scale. They come from rejecting harmful societal narratives about weight, challenging diet culture, and reconnecting with your body in a way that fosters long-term trust and care.
Before You Consider a GLP-1, Ask Yourself:
- What do I truly hope to gain from weight loss, and is there another way to achieve that?
- Will this medication help me build a long-term, positive relationship with food and my body?
- Am I prepared for the possibility of weight regain if I stop taking it?
- How has the pursuit of weight loss impacted my mental health in the past?
- What definitions of health, beauty, and worth am I ready to challenge?
Moving Forward with Support
Choosing whether or not to take a GLP-1 is a personal decision, but it’s important to do so with all the information—not just the weight loss promises. If you’re struggling with body image and food concerns, working with a weight-inclusive provider, dietitian, or therapist can help you explore deeper, more sustainable paths to well-being.
Your worth has never been defined by your weight. And no medication will offer the kind of peace that comes from truly making peace with your body. The real transformation happens when you stop chasing a smaller body and start cultivating a fuller, more authentic life.
If you’re looking for guidance on breaking free from diet culture and learning how to trust your body, I invite you to reach out for support. You don’t have to navigate this alone.