A few thoughts on GLP-1s (and why I said yes to that collaboration)

The eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted that last week I collaborated on an Instagram post with a company that provides weight loss medication (i.e. “GLP-1s” or “weight loss jabs”).

I really ummed and ahhed about whether to do it at all.

If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that I spend a lot of time writing about why diets don't work, why I don't think willpower is the answer, and why I believe we need a much kinder approach to food, movement and body size. So I was very aware that partnering with a company in the weight loss space might feel... surprising.

I've also had a few people ask me how I square those things in my own head. So I thought I'd answer properly. Not because I think everyone needs to agree with me, but because I think this conversation deserves a bit more nuance than it's currently getting.

Like everything I write, this isn't medical advice. It's my evidence-based opinion, based on the research I've read and the work I do with people every day.

I don't think GLP-1s are the enemy…

...but I don't think they're the answer either.

I think they're an incredibly important development. For some people, they've been genuinely life-changing. People lose significant amounts of weight while taking them. More interestingly to me, many people describe the constant "food noise" they've lived with for years suddenly going quiet. 

That, to me, is fascinating, because it reinforces something I've believed for a long time: that body weight has never simply been about willpower. Biology has always played a much bigger role than we've given it credit for. If these medications help us move away from the tired narrative of "eat less, move more", I think that's probably a good thing.

...But I also think we need to hold onto some uncertainty

The way these medications are sometimes talked about makes me uncomfortable. They're often presented as a miracle cure for the "obesity crisis", when the reality is much more complicated.

They're effective while people are taking them - but we know that the weight regain after stopping can be rapid. If, to avoid this, people should take this medication for the rest of their lives, people need to be aware of this going into it - and we need evidence on what the impact of that might be (especially given that we already know there are common side effects and potential serious risks). 

There's also the question of how we support people psychologically and behaviourally, both during and after taking them. Because if the support still boils down to calorie counting, food rules and "try harder", then I'm not convinced we've actually moved very far forwards.

None of that means people shouldn't take them. It simply means they're a serious medication, with real benefits and real risks, and I think people deserve honest conversations about both.

The part I care about most

So here's why I actually chose to work with a GLP-1 provider. Not because I think everyone should be taking weight loss medication - and definitely not because I suddenly think losing weight is the answer to happiness.

But because the people taking these medications deserve compassionate support just as much as anybody else - maybe even more.

In fact, I think we need to get more thoughtful about what "healthy eating" and a good relationship with food look like when someone's appetite, hunger cues and experience of food may be changing. The goal isn't simply to replace one set of rules with another - it's helping people build trust, flexibility and confidence around food in whatever circumstances they're in.

And if someone has spent decades feeling ashamed of their body, or fighting constant food thoughts - shrinking their body doesn't automatically make those things disappear. Sometimes it brings up completely new challenges. How do you cope with your body changing so quickly? How do you make sure you're nourishing yourself when your appetite has disappeared? How do you protect your muscle and bone health? What happens if the food noise comes back?

Those are behavioural and psychological questions. They're questions about identity, relationships with food, self-esteem and habit formation. They're exactly the sort of things that can make the difference between someone simply losing weight, and someone actually feeling healthier and happier.

That's the work that interests me - that’s what I want to help people with. 

And if a weight loss provider wants to work with me, it’s likely because they genuinely recognise that medication is only one piece of the puzzle. They want people to receive compassionate behavioural support alongside it, and that's a conversation I want to be part of.

So... would I take a GLP-1?

Right now? No.

I've spent a long time rebuilding my relationship with food, exercise and my body, and I'm genuinely at peace with my body not meeting society’s standards. For me personally, that means the potential benefits don't outweigh the potential downsides.

That doesn't mean I'd never consider it. If I developed a health issue like type 2 diabetes, I'd absolutely have that conversation with my doctor. 

Equally, I completely understand why somebody else might make a different decision today. We all have different bodies, different health risks, different experiences, and different priorities.

My bottom line

My views on diets, body acceptance and behaviour change haven't changed. If anything, GLP-1s have strengthened them. They've reminded us that our biology matters, and perhaps that we've been far too quick to blame people for something that was never entirely within their control.

Most importantly though, they've reminded me that regardless of whether someone changes their body with medication, they still deserve kindness, good evidence, and support that helps them build a healthier relationship with food and with themselves.

So if you're taking a GLP-1 already, or thinking about it, I hope you don't read this as judgement. Quite the opposite. I think you deserve good information, compassionate support, and care that goes far beyond simply handing you a prescription.

That's the bit I care about; and it's why I said yes to that collaboration.

I know this is a complicated topic, and there are lots of questions about GLP-1s beyond just whether they "work". If you’re interested, I've written a separate piece looking at what we know about the evidence so far, and the questions we still need to ask.