IIt's impossible to escape the sudden rise in popularity of Ozempic and similar drugs these days – daily headlines, celebrity “success” stories, and the apparent ease of obtaining a prescription (if even that). costco There are a lot of them on sale now. However, the cumulative effect of all of these has many experts in the eating disorder field concerned about how this will affect patients. This is not surprising. Even people without eating disorders can find these drugs both stimulating and tempting.Ultimately, research tells us that 90% of women I'm dissatisfied with my body. This seems like an easy fix.
Then I started hearing first anecdotes and then reports. published-Some doctors reportedly prescribed weight-loss drugs like Ozempic to patients with eating disorders. As well, to help with their treatment.
As a journalist who has extensively researched the harms of eating disorders and barriers to recovery, and as a woman who has struggled with eating disorders on and off for most of my life, I believe I must be mistaken. I did. Yes, we are in the midst of Ozempic fever as a society. And when I say “fever,” I mean the excitement, not the possible side effects of the medication (which is what it is).Researchers continue to discover new potential applications These drugs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. In March, FDA approved This is a new indication for the weight loss drug Wegovy (which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic), allowing it to be used as a treatment to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.The diabetes drug Ozempic, which is used off-label for weight loss, is also being studied for treatment. anxiety and depressionpolycystic ovary syndrome, drug abuse, Alzheimer's diseaseand now I have an eating disorder.
read more: Ozempic exposed the cracks in the body positivity movement
It is still early days, and research has not yet caught up with the enthusiasm. However, our cultural misconceptions about eating disorders, even by well-intentioned practitioners, can exacerbate the illness of those who suffer from eating disorders, with potentially dire consequences.
A new class of weight loss drugs mimics body conditions GLP-1 hormone, stimulates insulin production and lowers blood sugar levels, which is helpful for type 2 diabetics. This drug also suppresses appetite and slows the rate at which food moves into the small intestine. You'll feel full faster and eat less.many patients without it Eating disorder patients who take these drugs report a decrease in the “food noise” in their heads (which refers to obsessive thoughts or obsessions with food). (However, as philosopher Kate Mann wisely notes: Recent New York Times articles, isn't “food noise” just about hunger? )
For people who suffer from bulimia nervosa (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN), drugs that reduce appetite may seem logical. Both disorders are characterized by eating large amounts of food, eating until uncomfortably full, and feeling distress around the food (bulimia is distinguished by bulimia followed by purging). Masu).
Bulimia often appears as part of a restriction cycle such as dieting, fasting, or eliminating entire food groups such as carbohydrates. “Many people who suffer from BED believe that their bulimia symptoms are the problem and that restriction is something they should strive for,'' said Alexis Conason, a psychologist who specializes in treating bulimia. Ta. “When BED patients take GLP-1 drugs that reduce appetite, many are thrilled to find that their restriction becomes 'successful' and their intake is barely reduced throughout the day.” Later, BED turns into anorexia. Conazon added that this could lead to life-threatening complications and even starvation.
Eating disorders are complex illnesses that are still not fully understood by experts in the field. Food behaviors are often rooted in a complex web of trauma, anxiety, and even genetic predispositions, all of which are rooted in cultural contexts such as: thinness of the prize. Being underweight is often (incorrectly) confused with a health condition, and larger people are often exposed to bullying and negative stereotypes. discrimination in the workplace.
read more: Ozempic gets Oprah treatment in new TV special
new research For many people, it is strongly supported that eating disorders are diseases that originate in the brain, and that comorbidities such as anxiety, mood disorders, and substance abuse are almost always present.
“GLP-1 doesn’t help you deal with stress, anxiety, stress. [and] “A history of trauma,” said psychologist Cynthia Burik, one of the world's leading researchers on eating disorders and founding director of the Eating Disorders Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina. “Background distress, the underlying distress that may be causing BED in the first place, is temporarily avoided by removing the desire to eat.”
Approximately 30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder during their lifetime. 6% Four of them were medically diagnosed as being “underweight,” according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders. This means that a person may exhibit all the characteristics of anorexia, such as extreme dietary restriction and malnutrition, and still remain average weight or overweight. means. Your doctor may also tell you the following: lose Despite the fact that they are already going to dangerous extremes in pursuit of that “goal”, weight.
“We tend to think that all big people must have an eating disorder and all small people must have anorexia, but this couldn't be further from the truth.” Conason says. “So many people with BED seek weight loss support rather than seeking treatment for their eating disorder. Many people think the problem is their weight and need more help to stay on track.” They think that it is necessary, but in reality, if they stop restricting their diet, it is likely that their diet will be regulated.
It is much easier to undergo weight loss treatment than it is to treat an eating disorder.there is no standard treatment Eating disorders exist in this country and treatments are unregulated. Although there are some promising evidence-based treatments (cognitive behavioral therapy for adults, family-based treatments for children and teens), they do not work for everyone. Even if you are lucky enough to be diagnosed and receive appropriate treatment, recurrence is common and complete recovery may be difficult.
Additionally, these medications are often intended to be taken for life. “When they stop taking drugs or lose access to drugs due to supply issues, the urge to binge comes back quickly, but they develop no psychological (or) behavioral skills to control that urge. “I haven’t kept up with it,” she told me.Just like dieting, even if you lose weight probably will be taken back When a person stops taking a drug.Weight fluctuations themselves can occur increase a person's risk Studies have shown that it plays a role in the development of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
“Focusing on weight and eliminating the desire to eat can certainly be harmful,” Burik warns. “The potential for abuse is high and will be even higher with newer formulations that do not require injections…Remember, these drugs are 'for life.' Stop them and everything will go back to normal. ”
The long-term side effects of GLP-1 are not yet known. But the harms of eating disorders are: Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates among mental illnesses (second only to opioid overdoses). People with eating disorders are more likely to attempt suicide, and emergency department visits and hospitalizations for eating disorders at children's hospitals have skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, especially among young women. Emergency room visit of a girl between the ages of 12 and 17 who suffers from an eating disorder, according to the CDC doubled In the middle of a pandemic. Those numbers are As shown in recent studieshas not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
An even bigger concern is that gaps in comprehensive care for eating disorders are leading to and potentially harmful treatments, leaving patients vulnerable. While GLP-1 may seem like a short-term “solution,” it will not focus on the deeper problem and will not alleviate the eating disorder crisis in this country. And it's a crisis. Eating disorders cost the United States every year. $65 billion.
I am well aware that when a doctor advises a patient with an eating disorder that there are ways to help them eat less, most patients are happy to comply. It's part of the pathology of this disease. It's about eating disorders. Ideally, it shouldn't be the doctor's voice either.
