- A new study found that GLP-1RAs could reduce key symptoms of binge eating disorder.
- These included binge eating severity, loss of control eating, and emotional eating.
- Experts say that GLP-1RAs could potentially augment existing treatments for binge eating disorder, like psychotherapy.
- However, you should always consult with an eating disorder specialist before using them.
- Additional research will be needed to establish the effectiveness of GLP-1s in treating disordered eating.
New research suggests that a class of medications originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes and aid weight loss may also help reduce binge eating behaviors in people with obesity
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists(GLP-1RAs), such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have been widely prescribed for weight management. Now, their potential to ease symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED) related eating behaviors is coming into clearer focus
The study, published on July 15 in eClinical Medicine, shows that GLP-1RAs can lead to moderate reductions in binge eating severity, loss of control eating, and emotional eating
However, also appear to increase cognitive or dietary restraint, a form of conscious effort to control food intake
These findings offer hope for patients and healthcare providers seeking additional treatment options for binge eating symptoms, especially for people living with obesity
Analyzing effects of GLP-1 drugs on binge eating disorder
To understand the effects of GLP-1RAs on binge eating behaviors, researchers undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis. This is a rigorous method that synthesizes evidence from multiple clinical trials to assess overall effectiveness
They searched major medical databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2005 and April 2026, the period during which GLP-1RAs have been in use
Trials were included if they compared any GLP-1RA medication to placebo or another active treatment and reported validated measures of binge eating or related eating behaviors, such as loss-of-control eating and disinhibited eating
Studies involving participants with severe physical illnesses like cancer were excluded to maintain comparability
A total of 25 RCTs met the criteria, enrolling 8,069 participants, about two-thirds of whom were female and the majority of whom identified as white
The median age was 47 years, and all participants were living with overweight or obesity
Only three studies specifically recruited individuals diagnosed with binge eating disorder, highlighting a current gap in targeted research
The most commonly studied GLP-1RA was liraglutide, followed by semaglutide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide, and several others
The interventions varied in dosage and duration, ranging from 6 weeks to 104 weeks
Most studies used a placebo as the control treatment, though a few compared GLP-1RAs with other medications or behavioral therapies
Researchers extracted data on changes in binge eating severity, loss of control eating, disinhibited eating, emotional eating, and cognitive or dietary restraint
These outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires, including the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and Control of Eating Questionnaire (CoEQ)
Statistical techniques were applied to calculate standardized mean differences, enabling comparison across studies with different scales
GLP-1s improve binge eating symptoms, other eating behaviors
The analysis revealed that participants who received GLP-1RAs experienced consistent and moderate reductions in core binge eating symptoms compared to those who received a placebo or other comparators
Specifically, there was a small-to-moderate decrease in binge eating severity, with effect sizes indicating meaningful improvements across multiple studies
Loss of control eating — a hallmark of binge episodes — was also significantly reduced. Participants reported fewer episodes of feeling unable to control their eating, suggesting that GLP-1RAs may help restore a sense of control over food intake
In addition to reductions in binge-related behaviors, emotional eating — a tendency to eat in response to negative emotions — was moderately decreased among those treated with GLP-1RAs. This is important because emotional eating often contributes to overeating and weight gain
Additionally, the medications were associated with an increase in cognitive or dietary restraint, meaning participants reported a greater conscious effort to limit food intake. While this could reflect healthier self-regulation, the authors say that in some cases, increased restraint may be linked to disordered eating behaviors
The effects were generally larger in trials that included individuals diagnosed with binge eating disorder or specifically aimed to reduce binge eating. However, the majority of trials involved participants without formal eating disorder diagnoses, limiting the ability to generalize findings to all people with binge eating disorder
Researchers also highlighted that all included studies had either some concerns or a high risk of bias, often due to issues such as missing data or participant unblinding
Overall, the evidence points to GLP-1 receptor agonists as promising adjunctive treatments that can reduce binge eating symptoms and improve related eating behaviors in people living with obesity
However, the authors emphasize the need for longer-term studies and trials focused specifically on individuals with binge eating disorder to better understand the full benefits and potential risks of these medications
GLP-1s offer another treatment option for binge eating disorder
Lauren Grawert, MD, clinical advisor of The Garden Recovery & Wellness, said the results of this study are “promising.” She was not involved in the research
“Binge eating disorder has been identified as the most prevalent
eating disorder,” Grawert told Healthline, “but unfortunately continues to cause problems for many people treated using established therapeutic methods.”
If further studies confirm the benefits of these medications, they could provide an additional treatment option for those with binge eating disorder, especially those who have obesity, but they likely wouldn’t be used on their own
“The results of this study do not suggest GLP-1 receptor agonist medications should supplant evidence-based treatments for binge eating disorder, including cognitive behavioral therapy,” she said, noting that this is currently the primary treatment method
Joel Jahraus, MD, vice president of Medical Services at Monte Nido & Affiliates, who wasn’t part of the research team, added that it’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider before taking GLP-1RAs
If you have binge eating disorder, he advises speaking with an eating disorder treatment provider as well.“Many non-eating disorder treatment professionals don’t understand the difference between eating disorders and compulsive overeating and may prescribe GLP-1RAs without screening for BED or other eating disorders,” he told Healthline. The rapid weight loss seen with these medications could worsen binge behaviors
Jahraus explained the importance of an individual’s relationship with food during eating disorder treatment, stating that lack of appetite and increased restriction while using a GLP-1RA could have negative impacts on treatment. It could make it more difficult to meet nutritional needs and eating disorder treatment goals, he said
Finally, Jahraus emphasized that there is still much that scientists don’t know about the long-term effects of these medications
“Some eating disorder treatment professionals may prescribe GLP-1RA for BED, but more research is needed to fully determine their effectiveness,” he said
