A new analysis of 25 clinical trials involving 8,069 participants found that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic may reduce binge eating symptoms, including loss of control and emotional eating, though experts caution the evidence remains limited.
GLP-1 Drugs Show Modest Benefits for Binge Eating Disorder
GLP-1 receptor agonists, commonly used for weight loss and diabetes, may offer moderate reductions in binge eating severity
and related behaviors, according to a systematic review published in eClinicalMedicine. The study, led by researchers at University College London (UCL), analyzed 25 randomized controlled trials involving 8,069 participants, most of whom had overweight or obesity. Participants taking GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) reported fewer binge eating episodes, reduced loss-of-control eating, and lower emotional eating compared to placebo or other treatments.
We found evidence that weight loss drugs may help manage some key symptoms of binge eating disorder,
said Dr. Ilaria Costantini, lead author and research fellow in psychiatric epidemiology at UCL. However, our review cannot conclude that these medications are effective treatments for binge eating disorder or that they should be prescribed routinely for this indication.
Dietary Restraint Doubles as a Double-Edged Sword
While GLP-1 drugs reduced binge eating symptoms, they also increased cognitive or dietary restraint,
a measure of conscious effort to limit food intake. This effect raised concerns among researchers, as increased restraint could reflect either healthy self-regulation or disordered eating patterns like meal skipping.
From the evidence available, we cannot say whether the increase in dietary restraint reflects a positive and helpful form of self-regulation or if it is a more dysfunctional pattern of eating,
said Izzy Emptage, a UCL Psychiatry PhD candidate and co-author of the study. We hope future research can clarify whether taking weight loss drugs might contribute to more pathological forms of eating restriction.
Study Limitations and Calls for More Research
The study’s authors emphasized significant limitations, including a high risk of bias in most trials and a lack of participants with formal binge eating disorder diagnoses. Only three of the 25 trials specifically recruited individuals with the condition, and most studies were funded by pharmaceutical companies.
The majority of trials involved participants without formal eating disorder diagnoses, limiting the ability to generalize findings to all people with binge eating disorder,
the researchers wrote. They called for larger, independently funded trials to determine whether the short-term benefits observed in the review translate into sustained improvements.
Real-World Cases and Access Challenges
While clinical trials show promise, real-world experiences highlight disparities in access. Paige Gordon is part of a new wave of people using GLP-1 drugs to treat their eating disorders, but experts warn that many patients cannot access these medications through public healthcare systems. Many people with binge eating disorder cannot access weight loss drugs through their public healthcare providers, so many have to seek treatment privately at considerable personal cost,
Emptage said.
What Comes Next for Binge Eating Disorder Treatment?
Worth a look
