A 25-year-old woman with a history of anorexia nervosa received a prescription for a GLP-1 weight-loss drug from a telehealth service, describing the process as "criminally easy." The woman, identified only as Kate, told ABC News that she had managed her eating disorder since her last hospitalization in 2022. After researching GLP-1s online in 2025, she encountered targeted advertisements on Instagram for a telehealth clinic and scheduled an appointment.
During her initial phone consultation, Kate admitted to providing inaccurate health details but stated she was not questioned about her history of eating disorders. Following a blood test, she received a GLP-1 prescription during a second phone consultation. In a subsequent appointment to request a refill and a higher dosage, she reported receiving "forceful" and "intimidating" advice, being told she was "eating the wrong things" and "eating too much." This feedback, she said, was "jarring" given her history with an eating disorder and contributed to her decision to stop the medication with the help of her doctor.
Experts indicate that a significant number of individuals with eating disorders have used GLP-1 medications. A study found that 30% of participants with eating disorders had used drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Some individuals with a history of eating disorders have reported experiencing a relapse after starting GLP-1s, while others found it difficult to cease restrictive eating habits after discontinuing the medication.
In the United States, there is currently no standardized protocol for screening patients for eating disorders before prescribing GLP-1s. This contrasts with other weight-loss interventions, such as bariatric surgery, which typically involve psychological screenings. Specialists note that GLP-1s have the potential to reawaken eating disorders that may have been in remission or well-managed for extended periods. In some instances, these medications are prescribed for health reasons other than weight loss, and patients may not be aware of the potential to trigger underlying eating disorder issues. For example, one individual who began Wegovy for cholesterol management found it revived an eating disorder she had not actively struggled with for two decades.