A scoping review on weight loss injections and eating disorders: therapeutic impact, risks of misuse, and emerging harms.

Authors

Poppy Barrett, Cat Papastavrou Brooks, Sara McCluskey, Amy Brown

Published in

Journal of eating disorders. Jun 21, 2026. Epub Jun 21, 2026.

Abstract

GLP-1 receptor and GIP agonists are widely used for weight loss in obesity, with strong evidence supporting their efficacy, and their potential positive impact on binge eating disorders. However, little is known about their use in individuals with eating disorders. Despite growing concerns, research exploring this intersection is limited, and clinical guidance is lacking.
This scoping review explores existing literature on weight loss injections in the context of eating disorder development and treatment to identify gaps and inform future practice.
The scoping review searched six electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, AMED, HMIC, and Emcare) in April 2025. Studies were eligible if they focused on the use of weight loss injections (GLP-1 receptor agonists), in individuals with current or past eating disorders, including all diagnoses. Both clinical and non-clinical settings were included, with no age or geographical restrictions.
A total of 80 records were identified through database searches. After title and abstract screening, 11 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Two papers were excluded due to the absence of empirical data, resulting in 9 studies being included in the final review.
Overall, there is very limited evidence exploring the psychological impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on individuals with eating disorders. While some findings suggest potential benefits for managing binge eating symptoms in populations with comorbid type 2 diabetes, there is a significant gap in our understanding of how these medications may influence disordered eating behaviours and body image concerns, particularly when used outside of weight-based indicators. Further research is essential to inform clinical guidelines.

PMID:
42324477
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 22 Jun 2026.

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