GLP-1 Medications: Useful Tool or Oversimplified Solution?

Fulfilled Nutrition Counseling LLC

By Sidney Lambert, MDN, RD, LD

January 23, 2026

At Fulfilled Nutrition Counseling, we believe deeply in body autonomy — every individual has the right to make informed choices about their own body. One topic generating a lot of conversation right now is GLP-1 medications.

In this blog, our dietitian, Sidney Lambert, MDN, RD, LD, breaks down the current research, what we know (and don’t yet know), and how different bodies may respond to these medications — all from an objective, compassionate, and non-judgmental lens. Whether you’re curious, considering GLP-1s, or simply wanting reliable information, we invite you to read on.

What are GLP-1s?

GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your body naturally produces in the gut. It helps regulate blood sugar, digestion, and communication between the gut and brain.

GLP-1 medications mimic or enhance this hormone’s effects. They’ve been used in medical care for years, especially for type 2 diabetes, and more recently for other metabolic and blood sugar–related conditions.¹

How do they work? 

GLP-1 medications support systems that already exist in the body. They may:

• prompt the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high, helping regulate glucose;

• slow the rate at which the stomach empties after eating, which can make people feel full longer;

• change appetite signaling in the brain 

Any changes in hunger or eating patterns are biological, not a reflection of willpower or “doing things right.” Bodies respond differently; some people notice strong effects, others mild or none.²

What are GLP-1s used for?

GLP-1s are most commonly prescribed for:

• Type 2 diabetes management

• Blood sugar regulation and metabolic health

• Reducing certain health risks as part of comprehensive care

Although often discussed in relation to weight, many people use GLP-1s for reasons unrelated to changing body size. Choosing to use, or not use, these medications is a personal healthcare decision.² 

GLP-1 Side Effects to Be Aware Of

• Nausea or stomach discomfort, which can make eating feel unpleasant or lead to avoiding food

• Early fullness, making it harder to eat enough at meals or finish foods you normally would

• Reduced appetite, which may mask your body’s ongoing need for regular nourishment

• Vomiting or reflux, sometimes increasing fear around eating or certain foods

• Constipation or diarrhea, which can affect comfort and willingness to eat consistently

• Fatigue or low energy, often a sign of underfueling or inconsistent intake

• Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially if meals are skipped or portions become too small

• Changes in thoughts or behaviors around food, such as increased rigidity, guilt, or focus on intake or weight

Because reduced hunger or discomfort doesn’t mean reduced nutritional needs, these side effects deserve attention, especially if eating starts to feel stressful, rule-bound, or disconnected from your body.3,4

Why an eating-disorder–informed lens matters:

From an eating-disorder perspective, GLP-1s deserve careful consideration. Because they can suppress appetite and alter hunger cues, they may unintentionally reinforce restriction or disconnection from the body, especially for people with current or past eating disorders, chronic dieting histories, or food insecurity.⁵  They may also precipitate eating-disorder behaviors in individuals who previously had no history of disordered eating, by normalizing extreme appetite suppression, moralizing reduced intake, or creating anxiety around eating once hunger returns. 

There is also limited research on how these medications affect people with current or past eating disorders. While studies suggest they may reduce emotional and binge eating in specific conditions short term, others emphasize that psychological and behavioral impacts long-term are unknown.^6,7

Reduced hunger does not mean reduced nutritional needs. This doesn’t mean GLP-1s are inherently harmful, but it does mean they should be approached with curiosity, caution, and ongoing monitoring when eating-disorder risk is present. Working side by side with a dietitian can help ensure you’re adequately fueling your body, even when appetite signals are quieter than usual.

What GLP-1s don’t address

GLP-1 medications do not address:

• The root causes of disordered eating or body image distress

• Ingrained beliefs about food, weight, and worth

• Nutrient adequacy, muscle preservation, or bone health

• Social, emotional, cultural, and economic factors that shape health

Medication alone cannot replace nourishment, support, or a respectful relationship with food and body.

Nutrition guidance still matters

For people taking GLP-1s, nutrition guidance still matters, and often becomes more important. Because appetite may be blunted, intentional focus on adequate volume, regular meals, and wide variety is essential.

This often means:

• Eating consistently, even when hunger cues are quieter

• Prioritizing enough food to meet energy needs

• Maintaining adequate consumption of ALL food groups as they all are important and serve a purpose; carbs, protein, fats, fiber, dairy, etc. 

• Supporting digestion, strength, and overall wellbeing

A weight-inclusive takeaway

GLP-1 drugs are biological tools. Whether someone chooses to use them, or chooses not to, is a personal decision best made in partnership with informed healthcare providers who respect autonomy, eating-disorder history, and holistic wellbeing.

Your relationship with food, body, and health is meaningful beyond any medication, and it deserves care that centers your whole person, not just numbers.

Thanks for reading!

1. What are GLP-1 medications? | McKinsey. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-are-glp-1-medications

2. GLP-1 Agonists. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists 

3. GLP-1 Medications and Eating Disorders. National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed January 23, 2026. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/glp-and-eating-disorders/

4. Bartel S, McElroy SL, Levangie D, Keshen A. Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in eating disorder populations. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2024;57(2):286-293. doi:10.1002/eat.24109

5. GLP-1 Medications & Eating Disorders | ANAD - National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. April 4, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://anad.org/glp-1-medications-eating-disorders/ 

6. Radkhah H, Rahimipour Anaraki S, Parhizkar Roudsari P, et al. The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eat Weight Disord. 2025;30(1):10. doi:10.1007/s40519-025-01720-9

7.Krug I, Dang AB, Portingale J, Li Y, Won YQ. Beyond Weight Loss: GLP-1 Usage and Appetite Regulation in the Context of Eating Disorders and Psychosocial Processes. Nutrients. 2025;17(23):3735. doi:10.3390/nu17233735