GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections and the Impact on Body Image

As a counsellor specialising in eating disorders and body image, I can’t help but be concerned by the boom in weight loss injections and the complexities people are having to navigate. Body image concerns and disordered eating are widespread, with many potential risks and harms for those now choosing to take GLP-1s.

I understand the allure of these drugs and hear the overwhelmingly positive accounts, with many people calling them “life-changing”. We live in a culture where thinness is highly praised and conflated with health and wellness, so it’s understandable why these “wonder drugs” are so popular. They’re a capitalist dream.
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I work with a range of clients experiencing disordered eating and body image difficulties. This includes those who are taking GLP-1 injections, those considering taking them, those who are working towards coming off them, as well as those who would never take them. I respect all individual views and choices, though I believe it’s crucial to have full awareness, informed consent and the right support. My priority is safety and reducing the risk of harm to those impacted by diet culture and disordered eating, while also thinking about the wider social and cultural implications.

Therapy for Body Image, Food Noise and Relationship with Food

Many people can benefit from exploring body image and their relationship with food, including the impact of “food noise”, whether they take weight loss injections or not.

​GLP-1s can’t heal relationships with food or the impact of past trauma, nor can they build body acceptance, self-esteem or self-worth. This is where therapeutic support is needed to understand the wider context and explore any deeper-rooted issues.

“Food noise” is seen as the enemy and something to be “fixed” with weight loss injections. However, GLP-1s often just mask food noise, and it inevitably comes back. I’ve written a separate blog about this here.
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Body image and confidence improvements based solely on weight loss can be superficial and are unlikely to build self-worth in the long term.

Does Weight Loss from GLP-1s Improve Body Image?

A recent paper, Body Image in the Age of GLP-1s: Emerging Questions for Research and Practice (Craddock and Schneider, 2026), highlighted that GLP-1s don’t automatically improve body image - any satisfaction taken from weight loss is not the same as developing positive body image. The paper highlights the importance of psychological support for body image, and recognises the wider social impact of reinforcement of appearance standards and weight stigma.
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“As GLP-1 use becomes increasingly normalised, the field must ask not only whether these medications change bodies, but how they shape relationships with the body, and whose bodies are deemed acceptable, and by whom.” (Craddock and Schneider, 2026)

Reflections from Therapy Practice

Taking a GLP-1 isn’t an effective way to find long-term peace with your body because having a smaller body doesn’t automatically bring better health or happiness. Weight loss interventions bring a sense of control, and when some weight loss is achieved, this can feel satisfying… but only in the short term. Many people find the goal posts move, needing more weight loss but never feeling good enough.  

To base body satisfaction on weight loss reinforces weight stigma, diet culture and the thin ideal. This means that if/when people gain weight again, their body image plummets, and potentially their mental health too. Sadly, people tend to blame themselves at this point and often try again with a new weight loss intervention. This leads to yo-yo dieting, diet cycles and sometimes binge eating cycles (you can read more about this here).
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Trying to build body acceptance and self-worth based on weight is too precarious as weight changes throughout life. It’s also only looking at the surface issue and ignoring what else could be going on. As a body image therapist, I’m curious to explore underlying self-worth problems, the impact of childhood experiences, as well as socio-cultural influences, and relational experiences with others.

Body image is way deeper than just weight. Many people have experienced bullying, trauma or abuse, which can shape their whole lives. This can sometimes lead to weight loss attempts in order to take control and feel better, but can lead to more serious disordered eating or eating disorders.
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Body Size, Stigma and Society

The way people are treated in society, and the access and privilege they experience, is influenced by appearance, skin colour, ability and body size. Stigma and discrimination play a huge role in how people navigate the world in their bodies. Many people have experienced trauma and abuse connected to how they’ve been treated because of their bodies.

Many people seek weight loss because they’re living under weight stigma and discrimination. They may have faced judgment in healthcare, bullying, discrimination and constant societal messaging telling us that smaller bodies are more worthy. So it’s understandable why people would want to escape weight stigma by trying to lose weight.
When I was a child, I thought I had to lose weight to stop people bullying me for my weight. Now I see that I was the victim and didn’t need to change. Those facing discrimination or abuse aren’t to blame and shouldn’t have to change themselves to minimise harm. That responsibility belongs to the perpetrator, and to the culture that facilitates and encourages this behaviour. Body size isn’t the issue - stigma is.
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Not everybody has the capacity and privilege to be in a smaller body, or to be “healthy”, but everyone deserves to be respected, and deserves to respect themselves.
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The Impact of GLP-1 Culture and Marketing

Sadly, every time we have a new “wonder drug” that promises thinness, it fuels discrimination and stigma. Many people are now struggling with the overwhelmingly positive discourse around GLP-1s. It can feel like everyone is taking them and shrinking before their eyes. The marketing and promotion of these drugs can feel relentless.
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As an eating disorder therapist, I get advertisements for them constantly. They can be hidden, but if I’m seeing them repeatedly, I know that people struggling with disordered eating and body image are seeing them too, and that’s deeply concerning. A large majority of people seem to be purchasing GLP-1s online as they don’t meet NHS requirements, which increases the risk too. It requires people putting careful thought into this and doing their own research before purchasing.

Risks of Weight Loss Injections

We need to highlight the risks and harms of weight loss injections, not to shame those taking them but to prioritise safety. Many people may be at risk of harm when taking these drugs, e.g. those in eating disorder recovery. Many people have worked hard to develop some form of body acceptance or body neutrality, only to now see people in body positivity spaces advocating for GLP-1s.
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GLP-1s are sometimes argued to be “injectable eating disorders” as they reduce the appetite, and therefore the need to eat. This is dangerous for someone with anorexia, who could access these drugs online too easily. For many others taking GLP-1s, their relationship with food actually ends up getting worse as they may forget to eat, choose not to eat, or eat less nutritious food. 
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Building Self-Worth Beyond Weight Loss

I know through both personal and professional experience that you CAN improve your body image and self-worth without this being based on appearance or weight. It may not be a quick or easy fix, but it’s worth it in the long run. Whether you’re taking weight loss injections or not, this work is necessary.
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I’ve worked hard in my own life to improve my relationship with food and my body. It can feel like a radical act to advocate for yourself as a fat person in the world. It’s hard to stand up against stigma and speak openly about what you believe in. I believe in advocating for people in larger bodies and helping people build self-worth in meaningful ways, without it being reliant on changing their weight or appearance. I believe everyone deserves this. It shouldn’t feel radical or difficult to simply be OK with your body.
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Considering GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections

If you’re thinking about using GLP-1 weight loss injections, it can be helpful to come from a place of care for yourself rather than punishment. Approach them with curiosity and consider what you’re really looking for beyond weight loss.
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This document by “Medical Students for Size Inclusivity” exploring informed consent may be helpful to help make an educated decision.
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Body Image Therapy Online in the UK

In therapy, it can be helpful to explore:

• Body image history and relationship with food
• Eating disorder risk or past disordered eating
• Childhood relationships and attachment
• What “food noise” means for you personally
• Fear of weight gain
• Identity changes linked to body size
• Grieving body changes
• Shame
• Experiences of weight stigma
• Coming off weight loss injections
• Expectations created by social media
• Building confidence and self-esteem beyond body size or appearance

 
Next Steps…

I offer online therapy for body image and disordered eating, and for those who have experienced weight stigma. I support people at any stage of considering, taking, or coming off weight loss injections. I offer a free 15-minute initial chat – contact me here.

I have a body image/disordered eating resources page here - including a free body image self-help resource created by myself in conjunction with First Steps.
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Read more of my blogs on this topic and more here...

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