February 4, 2026 — 8:30am
When Kacey Martin began using weight-loss medication in June, under the guidance of her healthcare providers, she initially found relief from her long-standing struggles with food. “It reduced the food noise,” Martin explained, having previously dealt with bulimia as well as binge and restrictive eating. “I wasn’t so preoccupied in my head with food, which gave my brain space for all of the other things that happen in life.”
However, it wasn’t long before the 33-year-old noticed a resurgence of problematic behaviors, such as purging. “I did feel this strong urge to go back to body-checking and weight-checking … weighing myself almost daily, or multiple times a day,” she added. “That psychological preoccupation with my weight has come back for me and gotten worse.”
Concerns Over GLP-1 Drugs and Eating Disorders
As GLP-1 drugs become increasingly accessible in Australia, experts are raising alarms about their potential to trigger new eating disorders. There is growing concern that these medications could push individuals with a history of anorexia into relapses that necessitate hospitalization. Dr. Terri-Lynne South from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has voiced concerns about the development of atypical anorexia among users of weight-loss medication.
Atypical anorexia is characterized by individuals with a history of living in larger bodies becoming fixated on weight and engaging in excessive dieting and exercise. “We need to be very mindful of whether we are setting people up to have an unhealthy relationship with food,” said South, who specializes in obesity management. “The medications can be prescribed appropriately and in doing so, actually cause someone to have disordered eating or an eating disorder.”
Regulatory Actions and Medical Recommendations
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has taken regulatory actions against healthcare providers who have inappropriately prescribed these medications, particularly through telehealth services. In some cases, the inappropriate prescribing of GLP-1 medicines has suppressed the hunger of patients with anorexia, leading to emergency hospitalizations.
“We have seen examples of patients admitted to hospital due to inappropriate prescribing of weight-loss medication when a thorough consultation would have identified that the prescribing [was] risky for that patient,” an AHPRA spokesperson said.
Dr. South advocates for face-to-face consultations before prescribing such medications, along with improved access to dietitians, psychologists, and exercise physiologists. “We need to watch this space – that we’re not taking someone from a binge-eating disorder to atypical anorexia,” she emphasized.
Expert Opinions and Future Research
Kacey Martin, who is pursuing a PhD at the University of NSW on eating disorders among Maori people in Australia, expressed a desire for affordable therapy to help manage the recurring thoughts she has experienced since starting weight-loss medication. “People often jump between eating disorders,” she noted. “We shouldn’t just assume there’s no risk for restrictive eating problems in people with binge-eating or bulimia.”
Dietitians Australia spokeswoman Josephine Money highlighted the challenges GLP-1 medications pose for adequate nutrition. “A starved brain has increased thoughts about food, increased anxiety, fear and drive for control; this can be the basis of typical anorexia cognitions,” she said.
Money estimates that about 40 percent of her clients are either taking GLP-1s, considering taking them, or are curious about them.
While current evidence suggests GLP-1 use with binge-eating is positive, Money stresses the need for more extensive research. She suggests that the medication could be beneficial for some individuals with binge-eating disorder if paired with comprehensive support from dietitians and mental health clinicians to minimize the risk of malnutrition and developing restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia.
Implications and Next Steps
The discussion around GLP-1 drugs and their impact on eating disorders is ongoing, with experts calling for stricter prescribing regulations and more comprehensive patient assessments. As the use of these medications continues to rise, the healthcare community is urged to remain vigilant and proactive in preventing potential harm to patients.
For confidential and free support for eating disorders, individuals can contact the Butterfly National Helpline at 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email.
