FDA Approves Wegovy GLP-1 Weight Loss Daily Drug
Wegovy’s daily pill form will soon be available to consumers after the FDA approves the drug.
It was the 90’s. Beauty standards were set by supermodels, and society’s obsession with being thin led to the hip-hugging, low-rise jeans of the 2000s. But behind the flashy fashion often hid bottles of Fen-Phen, Redux, and other diet pills that inspired the “heroin chic” aesthetic of the time.
The ’90s aesthetic was overshadowed by the celebration of a different kind of celebrity, with the curvaceous bodies of women like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and JLo idealized. Eventually, entire movements and terms such as body positivity and body neutrality emerged.
But recently, there are concerns that “the cultural swing toward diluted ideals is growing again,” said Sam DeCaro, director of clinical support and education at the Renfrew Center, which specializes in eating disorder treatment.
For those who need it, GLP-1 can be a life-changing tool with significant health benefits. But with FDA-approved weight loss drugs now on the market, some mental health and eating disorder experts worry that the proliferation of these drugs is a throwback to the ubiquitous days of diet culture, and that people with a history of eating disorders will seek out GLP-1 in pill form as it becomes the cultural norm.
“Unfortunately, many of the people who seek these drugs don’t seem to be tested for eating disorders, nor are they monitored for the development of eating disorder symptoms after taking the drugs,” says DeCaro, who has a Ph.D. in psychology.
She hopes treatment teams will become the norm as “these drugs become more accessible for the wrong reasons.” “In addition to being a doctor, I would also like to become a therapist or nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders,” she says.
Medically, GLP-1 pills are “very different” from the diet pills of the ’90s, says Dr. Sara Gupta, a psychiatrist and medical director at mental health services platform Modern Health, but she understands why the comparisons and concerns arise.
“Many of the early drugs focused almost entirely on weight loss, often without strong evidence of broader health benefits,” said Dr. Gupta. “A more complex picture is emerging for GLP-1 therapeutics. There is growing evidence that beyond weight loss, GLP-1 therapeutics can lower the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, and support broader metabolic health.”
But Gupta says there are legitimate concerns about how these drugs are showing up in the culture.
“Even among people who aren’t using it for medical reasons, when something that has real clinical value becomes so prominent, expectations about body size can start to form in ways that go beyond health,” she said. “It also creates cultural pressure to conform to certain body standards, regardless of actual health status. In some people, these drugs can also cause or worsen eating disorders.”
Some reality TV fans saw this play out on screen earlier this year in “The Secret Life of Mormon Mrs. Star Layla Taylor has revealed that she used the GLP-1 drug despite having an eating disorder and body image issues. Taylor said in an Instagram post after the season premiere in March that she was undergoing treatment and was no longer taking medication.
DeCaro hopes people aren’t using these drugs simply to “mitigate eating disorders, facilitate restriction (and) facilitate nutritional deficiencies.”
“All potential patients complete an online visit that asks for information about their weight loss and personal health goals, clinical conditions, and medical history, including eating disorder diagnoses,” a spokesperson for Ro, the online platform offering these medications, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
“This comprehensive online visit will help healthcare providers not only determine treatment eligibility at the beginning of treatment, but also track patient treatment response and progress over time,” the statement continued. “To ensure that the right patient receives the most appropriate treatment, patients diagnosed with an eating disorder are encouraged to get tested and receive treatment in-person rather than Ro.”
The way forward is to continue having health- and science-based conversations, including “who are these drugs suitable for and how are they used safely, while also being mindful of the broader societal implications,” Mr. Gupta said.
DeCaro added that it’s important to remember that these drugs are not approved as treatments for eating disorders, and that little is known about their long-term effects.
“Weight loss is not a treatment or cure for eating disorders,” she says. “The good news is there is treatment and support for those who are suffering.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with body image or eating issues, the National Eating Disorders Association Toll-free and confidential helpline You can call or text us at 1-800-931-2237 or click-to-chat message.Nationaleatingdisorders.org/Helpline. For 24/7 crisis information, text “NEDA” to 741-741.
