Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
Experts urge eating-disorder checks for patients prescribed weight-loss drugs
An international coalition of experts issued new guidance on prescribing GLP-1 drugs, often called weight-loss injections, to people who may have eating disorders.
The drugs are used by tens of millions of people and can cause symptoms such as dizziness, hair loss and severe calorie deficits.
The experts recommend screening every patient before treatment and monitoring users routinely, but neither step is currently standard practice.
Many doctors are not trained to spot disordered eating, and some patients get the drugs through online services with little professional supervision.
In a study of 49 websites selling weight-loss drugs, about one-third required direct contact with a health professional and around half asked about eating disorders.
Another study found eating disorders were six times as common among people using GLP-1 drugs without an apparent medical need as in the general population, though there are few data on how often anorexia occurs among users overall.
Anorexia can cause serious health problems and can be fatal, while doctors have limited guidance on prescribing these drugs to people with a history of the illness.
An international coalition of specialists has recommended screening patients for eating disorders before prescribing GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and routinely monitoring those who take them.
These checks are not standard practice, and many doctors are not trained to recognize signs of disordered eating.
Experts are concerned that the drugs’ effects, including extreme calorie deficits, could contribute to eating disorders such as anorexia in some patients.
A recent study found eating disorders were six times more common among people using GLP-1 drugs without an apparent medical need than in the general population.
Many patients obtain the drugs through telemedicine services that may offer little professional oversight.
- Who
- An international coalition of obesity-medicine specialists, eating-disorder professionals and other experts issued recommendations for doctors.
- What
- The experts recommend screening patients for eating disorders before prescribing GLP-1 drugs and monitoring patients who use them.
- When
- The recommendations were issued recently; no specific date is stated.
- Where
- The coalition is international. Katherine Kiley is based in Long Beach, California.
- Why
- Experts are concerned that the drugs may contribute to eating disorders in some patients, and that current prescribing practices may not identify or protect at-risk patients.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An international coalition of specialists issued recommendations on prescribing GLP-1 drugs to patients with eating disorders.
A study found eating disorders were six times more common among GLP-1 users without an apparent medical need than in the general population.
- Recommended screening
- All patients should be assessed for signs of eating disorders before starting a GLP-1 drug.
- Recommended monitoring
- Doctors should routinely monitor patients who use the drugs.
- Current practice
- Screening and routine monitoring are not standard practice.
- Study finding
- Eating disorders were six times more common among users without an apparent medical need than in the general population.
- Online prescribing
- In a study of 49 websites, about one-third required direct interaction with a health professional before prescribing.
What people are saying
Given that, is it anorexia?
We started prescribing a very, very serious medication without fully knowing all the impacts it will have
It takes them to a point where any genetic predisposition they have is activated.
pharmacological sledgehammers