GLP-1s, Obesity, Emotional Eating, and Binge Eating

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GLP-1s and Binge Eating Disorder

GLP-1s do not currently have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for binge eating disorder. Healthcare professionals do, however, prescribe them off-label as an anti-binge drug. “Off-label” means that a healthcare professional might prescribe an approved medication for purposes other than its approved use if they judge that it can be safe and effective for a different problem.

Eating disorders in general are complex, and a variety of factors may influence them. These can include genetics, brain biology, cultural and social ideals, and underlying mental health conditions.

Binge eating disorder is a more serious condition than emotional eating. While emotional eating often ebbs and flows as a source of stress relief, binge eating involves rapid, large meals with a loss of control, often followed by episodes of intense shame.

GLP-1 medications can’t alleviate symptoms caused by all of these factors, but they may help certain patients by addressing some of the biological causes of hunger.

“For some people with binge-type eating disorders, these medications appear to mitigate some of the biological roots of disordered eating,” says Kim Dennis, MD, founder of the therapy practice SunCloud Health in Chicago and member of the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders’ Scientific Advisory Board.

A systematic review that pulled data from 8,069 participants across 25 randomized controlled trials found that taking GLP-1 agonists led to results beyond weight loss. They also helped to reduce episodes of binge eating, emotional eating, and loss-of-control eating.

The study highlights that GLP-1s could be a vital part of a binge eating treatment plan in the future, alongside psychological therapy and social support. However, the study authors highlight that further research is necessary, as it’s unclear whether the increased dietary restraint that GLP-1s may contribute to is helpful for self-control or may instead lead to imbalanced forms of restricted eating, such as skipping meals.

Because of this medication’s limitations in terms of treating the emotional aspects of eating, it also won’t address trauma or body image distortions, for example, if those issues are at the root of a person’s eating disorder, Dr. Dennis adds.

“Further evidence will be necessary before we can see the complete picture, but they show promise as, at the minimum, an adjunct to current therapy,” says Esposito.



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