The Mind on Medication: Mental Health in the Age of GLP-1s

There are moments when living in your own body may feel more than uncomfortable. The external pressures to look a certain way might seem too fast-paced, too intense, or simply too much to endure that turning to a medication like a GLP-1 seems like the only solution.

Understanding the Basics of GLP-1s

Before understanding the mental impact of these new drugs we first must understand some of the impacts on the brain and body. Some possible side effects or results of the GLP-1 medications include:

Change in the brains reward center
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
GI discomfort
Reduced appetite
Weight loss
Anhedonia

History and Relief of GLP-1s

Some individuals find that the GLP-1s can be life altering and offer a major improvement to their health that previous pathways did not offer, such as those with Diabetes or cardiovascular risk. The main things that these new drugs target is digestion of certain foods and also the brain’s reaction to food. Those whom the original drug, Ozempic™, was intended to help, allowed those with weight struggles related to biological mechanisms to finally find some relief and hope for better management of their symptoms or risks. Additionally, those who struggle with intense and constant cravings or disordered eating patterns due to intrusive thoughts of food, sometimes referred to as “food noise,” may offer some relief with professional physiological and psychological monitoring.

A prime example of this are those who struggle with binge eating disorder (Richards et al., 2023). There has been some newfound success among those with this mental health condition to curb these previously uncontrollable urges to eat beyond their need or want. These medications can offer the right amount of a boost to alter your brain’s reward systems to help build more balanced eating and functional habits. However, for most individuals where your health and function is not tied to your weight or overwhelming food noise, these drugs can offer additional negative effects both directly and indirectly.

Mental Health Myths around GLP-1s

Some report that while on a GLP-1, people find that they increase thought around suicide or self harm and depressive symptoms. Despite some reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found that compared to other drugs on the market, GLP-1s do not increase these issues compared to other drugs.

Mental Health Side Effects

With the rise of these “miraculous” weight loss drugs to the general public, these feelings of body dysmorphia or inadequacy might come up in any number of daily experiences. One might feel a sudden and intense rush of panic when scrolling through social media and seeing the rapid, glamorized weight loss of influencers and celebrities. One might feel completely disconnected from reality when hearing friends casually glamorize GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy at dinner. One might feel increased anxiety, disgust, or grief when looking in the mirror as a result of these ads. Again, the cultural goalposts for beauty standards have suddenly shifted, yet again. In any of these moments, the urge to restrict food or drastically alter your appearance might feel disproportionate, embarrassing, or even impossible to explain to those around you.

It is important to know that these feelings are not indicative of vanity or superficiality, nor do they mean that you lack the ability to persevere when confronted with diet culture. Rather, these instances actually indicate that your nervous system is overwhelmed by design. For decades, ads were designed to target deep desires and insecurities that are only exacerbated by current social media emphasis on appearances. These insurgence of ads, celebrity weight loss, and shift to rail-thin bodies is intended to bring up those often overwhelming emotions or innate desires to be accepted by others, feel happy, or be “healthy.” Unfortunately, these ads have found a way to disguise the true intentions behind them and almost act like three ducks disguised as a man in a trench coat. These companies are trying to pass off the idea that being “skinny” equates to “Health”, “Empowerment”, or countless other false but deeply alluring ideas.

It is also important to note that explicit or implicit social messages lead to many exacerbations of mental health struggles for those with mental health conditions such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, anxiety, and depression.

The cultural phenomenon surrounding GLP-1 weight loss drugs has intensified the focus on thin as the beauty standard. When individuals internalize these unrealistic beauty norms, their self-worth frequently becomes tied to their physical appearance, resulting in severe psychological distress and body shame (Keery et al., 2004) . This intense pressure to conform to such ideals is strongly linked to mental health conditions like body dysmorphic disorder and social anxiety (Paudel et al., 2025). Furthermore, the widespread body image dissatisfaction further pushed by these standards and the biological changes such as appetite suppression can put individuals with an eating disorder at a much higher risk for experiencing a relapse (Bartel et al., 2023).

For those struggling with disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and an eating disorder, these drugs reinforce all of the negative thoughts around food and their body. Daily life including going to the grocery store often already poses a struggle for those with an eating disorder or body dissatisfaction. Those with poor body image or an eating disorder often will struggle to be around others due to fear of judgement about their appearance when they do not believe they fit perfectly within the beauty standards. Often those with eating disorders struggle to truly experience and see their body objectively and so their brain tricks them into believing they are heavier than they are leading them to constantly keep losing weight even when their body may be shutting down. Now that weight loss is so normalized in the media it reinforces the dangerous thoughts of an eating disorder such as “I am only worth it if I look a certain way” or “I can always be thinner” that lead to fatal weight loss. Additionally, for those who go on these drugs it can lead to weight cycling, which is when you lose weight rapidly, then end up gaining it back but with some negative long-term consequences on the body. Examples of this in the media prior is the “The Biggest Loser” where the rapid but temporary weight loss leads to a slower metabolism and reduction of important hormones.

Additionally, due to the brain’s shift in the reward center on a GLP-1, many of those on the drug experience “the anhedonia effect.” While GLP-1s reduce cravings for food, some psychologists report patients experiencing a blunted pleasure response to all activities, from socializing to hobbies (Kornelius et al., 2024). Thus, leading to the common symptom of depression otherwise known as anhedonia. It is important to note that because of a common social effect of weight loss, especially for those who are struggling with obesity, it shows society’s deep bias towards those who are thinner. Essentially, those who notice after losing weight that they now are treated better by others that they are only worth attention when the condition of lower weight is present. Once again, reinforcing the idea that to be seen positively, someone must fit into the mold that society has currently decided is beautiful.

Combatting The Body Dissatisfaction And GLP-1 Overwhelm

First and foremost, the biggest factor in combating the negative effects of the GLP-1s cultural effects is to not blame ourselves. As mentioned above, the intention behind the ads is to make you feel like you are not complete without the product. Essentially, these companies are convincing everyone that to feel healthy or even love yourself, you need their medication forever. As I always say in my sessions when clients struggle to see their strengths, “You cannot learn to love yourself through shaming yourself.” Therefore, here are some ways you can learn to navigate this recent cultural shift in beauty standards without shame and instead with compassion. It is important to focus on what you truly value in yourself and others that do not revolve around the numbers on a scale which simply indicate someone’s force against gravity.

First and foremost, the biggest factor or way to lessen the impact of the increased push to be thin as possible is to intentionally modify your attention. To combat the relentless wave of GLP-1 marketing and its subtle rebranding of diet culture, you must play active defense with your mental health, starting with the content you consume. In my sessions with clients who struggle with their body image, I say, “Where your attention goes, your energy flows.” You can apply this mentality to what you devote your attention to and how you interact with it. In this economy, your attention is your greatest resource. The first way to do this is to track what you notice in your body, mind, and even soul when you watch or see images on social media that push thin ideals. Second, I always recommend becoming a critic towards social media and ask these three questions:

Are they trying to sell me something?
Is the possible benefit of this product really a reflection of me or society?
Does this image or video make you feel like you are not doing enough, need this one thing, or cause you to compare yourself to others who are very different from you?

If you notice that you answer “yes” to any of these questions, the likelihood is that you may want to pause and evaluate your true intentions of seeking out the item. This is a key moment to check in with yourself through intentional present moment awareness such as through a quick break, body scan, or even some brief journaling. Remind yourself what you truly value whether it is in yourself or if that is too hard, think of your closest friend who you deeply respect and their qualities. Next, be ruthless with what you can control in your media consumption. Go through your social media feeds, cut out those influencers who result in comparison, do not align with your true values, or generally do not make you feel better after watching them. You are the one in control, not them.

Once you quiet that external noise, you can begin shifting your internal dialogue toward body neutrality. One of the biggest help with body dissatisfaction thoughts is learning to not devote your attention to the thoughts of what your body does not do or look like and be grateful for in your life. Simple things such as being thankful for your body’s ability to run, walk, or hug a friend is an easy reminder when it feels hard to combat those negative body thoughts. Appreciating your body as an instrument for living, rather than an ornament for societal display, strips the power away from an industry trying to sell you a specific aesthetic. Finding freedom from the thin ideal is true empowerment, not the fake form that these companies are trying to sell you.

Conclusions

Furthermore, we must urgently separate medicine from morality. Choosing to take a GLP-1 is a private healthcare decision between you and your doctor, not a moral failing or the “easy way out.” By the same token, choosing not to take one does not mean you have “given up” on yourself or your health. Society has a long history of attaching virtue to thinness and suffering, but true wellness doesn’t come with a moral scorecard. As you navigate these options, take the time to deeply clarify your personal reasons. Are you pursuing a medical intervention because it genuinely aligns with your internal health goals or values such as improving your mobility, managing your blood sugar, or finding peace from food noise, or are you bending to the external pressure of a reinvigorated thin ideal? Rooting your health choices in genuine personal well-being, rather than a fear of societal judgment, is your strongest shield against the psychological toll of this cultural moment.

Ultimately, navigating the era of GLP-1s requires acknowledging a fundamental truth: physical health and mental health are inextricably linked, and you cannot medically alter one without profoundly impacting the other. A rapid change in physical size or the sudden rewiring of your brain’s reward center isn’t just a physiological event; it is a massive psychological shift that demands dedicated and professional help. If you are considering or currently taking a GLP-1, it is vital to pair your physiological treatment with robust psychological support. Seek out a therapist to help you navigate shifting identities and new coping mechanisms, or consult a registered dietitian who specializes in body image to help you rebuild a healthy relationship with nourishment. True health encompasses the mind just as much as the body, and ensuring you are emotionally anchored in your internal truth is the most important step in any medical journey.

Resources

nationaleatingdisorders.org
https://anad.org/

If you or someone you know is looking for support, feel free to reach out to Behavioral Health Clinic at 855.607.8242 or visit BHClinic.com