The BODYMED Project: The development of co-designed best practice guidelines for the prescription of GLP1s for individuals with eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction

There has been an exponential increase in the promotion and use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1s), such as Ozempic®, for weight loss (Han et al., 2024). Eating disorder clinicians and those with lived experience have urged caution regarding GLP-1 use in populations experiencing disordered eating (DE) and body image distress (Bartel et al., 2023), yet limited research has examined this.

In recent research by de Boer et al. (in preparation), thematic analysis of GLP1 user Reddit communities revealed themes related to fearing weight gain, calorie counting, harmful disordered eating attitudes and users commonly disclosed a history of DE prior to medication use. Additionally, recent research indicates that side effects of the medication may be associated with exacerbating eating disorders (Nishida et al., 2025).

There is a critical gap in research in terms of understanding the profile of those seeking the medication, and the consequences when ceasing use. This is a crucial area of research that may inform lived experience endorsed and evidence based best practice guidelines to support general practitioners (GPs), psychologists and dieticians when working with vulnerable individuals seeking prescriptions of GLP1s. The aim of this research is to examine the experience of key stakeholders and consumers regarding the use of GLP1s and their relationship to body image distress and disordered eating to inform guideline development.