Some influencers shoot down the idea of GLP-1s for weight loss and instead recommend “naturally” healing one’s sour relationship with food to lose excess weight.
At first, this approach may seem reasonable and logical. But we also need to look at the reality.
The reality is that many overweight people, who have a poor “relationship” with food intake, don’t have the time to wait around for a natural healing process to complete itself when it comes to eating.
If this is ever even to happen, it could take years – being that binge eating disorder could have its roots in childhood trauma.
Meanwhile, the obesity is harming that person’s body.
Weight loss shouldn’t be put on hold when it could reverse insulin resistance or even type 2 diabetes; eliminate the need for a CPAP machine; relieve foot pain from plantar fasciitis; relieve knee pain; correct a rapid resting heart rate; eliminate acid reflux, and make it so much easier for that individual to get through the day as far as energy and mobility.
Enter the GLP-1 Class of Drugs
For many, GLP-1 medications have been a godsend. To some influencers, these drugs come off as shortcuts or fake ways to deal with overeating disorders.
But the goal is to lose the weight as quickly and as safely as possible, rather than continuing indefinitely at trying to “naturally heal” a poor relationship with food that causes BED.
Do these influencers feel the same way about antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs too?
We don’t see them telling people to get off these drugs to try to heal their depression and anxiety “naturally,” do we?
In fact, some of these influencers take these drugs for their mental health issues!
Why don’t they quit these medications and try to heal their depression and anxiety naturally?
Because they know that the drugs help stabilize and regulate their mood and subdue general or free-floating anxiety disorder.
GLP-1 drugs help patients’ relationship with food by snuffing out the so-called food noise. And this is very well-documented.
I know someone who lost 80 pounds on Zepbound after years of “trying everything” to lose weight including working with a personal trainer.
Her obesity had caused health problems. Influencers would’ve told her, at the time she was considering Zepbound, to abandon this idea and stay fat and sick, and to work on her food relationship via natural means.
And what are these natural means? Well, can’t be much, being that many of these influencers don’t believe in even the most sensible and sustainable weight loss dietary regimens.
I myself believe that drugs should be used as a last resort for medical ailments; that people should try to correct the problem naturally first.
For example, high blood pressure? Ask your doctor first about the following natural treatments before jumping on the pharmaceutical bandwagon (unless your blood pressure is through the roof):
- Cut sodium intake
- Cut back on processed foods; employ the DASH diet
- Lose weight if overweight
- Quit smoking
- Do aerobic and strength training exercise – and vigorously
- If hypertension persists, get checked for sleep apnea, which often causes refractive high blood pressure!
Another example: Feeling depressed or anxious?
- Try to remove yourself from stressful environments
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Take up a new hobby or two
- Consider getting a dog or cat
- Take up exercise – and vigorously
- Eat healthier
- Seek out a support group
- If your job’s the culprit, consider switching companies or careers
- Have you had a full medical workup to eliminate a physical cause? My mother’s depression became so debilitating that I urged her to get on Cymbalta — before the root cause was eventually discovered: underactive thyroid.
As for obesity? I’m a former personal trainer and have always heavily favored the “natural” way to lose weight: diet and exercise.
I’ve never been a proponent of weight loss pills or “fat burner” pills.
I’m not even a big proponent of GLP-1s as a first line of combat against obesity.
However, at the same time, I believe it’s extremely wrong for influencers to go around yelling that people with obesity should avoid GLP-1 drugs and instead continue indefinitely struggling with their emotional overeating.
- Not everyone can afford therapy!
- There may be other reasons one finds therapy unpalatable.
- Maybe they’ve been in therapy for 10 years and it hasn’t worked.
- Maybe they can’t tolerate in-person support groups.
It’s extremely irresponsible for influencers to make posts telling fat, sick individuals that they don’t need the highly proven GLP-1 drugs and to instead just accept their body’s size as “perfect” despite obesity’s health hazards.
These influencers need to just shut their mouths and leave these issues to between the patient and their physician.
Weight Gain Drug for Anorexia Nervosa
Suppose a new drug came out that makes people with anorexia nervosa gain weight.
I’ll bet these influencers would be wildly praising this drug and urging all anorexic women to seek out a prescription.
Though no such drug is likely going to appear soon, this is a very intriguing thought study!
Bottom line: Influencers need to shift their attention to fixing their own mental health difficulties instead of urging dangerously overweight individuals to avoid talking to their doctors about GLP-1s.
