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Mental & Social Health

Mental and social health — identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

16 articles · updated Jul 19

Guides

GLP-1 medications and anxiety: what the evidence shows, and what to watch

Ask whether a GLP-1 helps or hurts anxiety and the honest answer is: both happen, and most people stay stable. Steadier blood sugar, quieter food noise, and weight change calm some people; a minority develop new or worse anxiety, and drug-safety databases show a small reporting signal. It is not a treatment for anxiety. Here's the balanced evidence and, more usefully, what to monitor and when to get help.

GLP-1 medications and ADHD: what to know if you have both

ADHD and obesity travel together, so a lot of people on a GLP-1 also have ADHD — and many take a stimulant. There are no trials of GLP-1s as an ADHD treatment, and it shouldn't be used as one. But if you have both, three practical things matter: stacking two appetite suppressants safely, the real ADHD–eating overlap, and the adherence hurdle a weekly injection poses for an ADHD brain. Here's the honest picture.

Getting mental health support while on a GLP-1: finding a therapist and the challenges to name

Losing weight on a GLP-1 changes more than your body — appetite, self-image, coping habits, and how others treat you can all shift, sometimes faster than your mind catches up. This is a practical guide to the mental-health challenges people commonly face on these medications, the kinds of therapists who can help, and exactly how to find and afford one — plus the crisis resources to keep close.

GLP-1s and a history of disordered eating: what the evidence says about safety

If you have a history of — or are living with — an eating disorder, a medication that suppresses appetite raises real questions. Here's what the early, mixed evidence actually shows about GLP-1 safety, the genuine concerns, and why this is a decision for a treatment team that includes a mental-health professional.

"Taking a GLP-1 is cheating": where the myth comes from, and what the evidence says

"That's cheating" is the accusation many GLP-1 users hear — and sometimes tell themselves. It rests on the belief that weight is a test of willpower and medication is the easy way out. Here's what the science of weight regulation actually shows, why the "cheating" frame collapses under it, where the myth comes from, why it spreads so easily, and how to respond to it.

Body-image lag after weight loss vs. body dysmorphia: how to tell the difference

After losing weight on a GLP-1, many people still 'feel' like their old body — the mind lags behind the mirror. That's common and usually eases. Body dysmorphic disorder is different: a persistent, distorted preoccupation with appearance that needs professional care. Here's how to tell them apart, and where to get help.

Conversation guides

discussion guide

Talking to a mental health provider about body image or disordered eating history before treatment

If you have a history of body image struggles or disordered eating, bringing it into the conversation before or during GLP-1 treatment can help you approach it more safely. Here's how to raise it.

Glossary terms

Weight stigma — Negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discrimination directed at people because of their body weight, including within healthcare.
Disordered eating — A range of irregular or harmful eating behaviors that may not meet the full criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder but still deserve attention and care.
Body dysmorphia — A mental health condition involving persistent, distressing preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance — a consideration for anyone undergoing rapid body change.
Anhedonia — A reduced ability to feel pleasure, including from food — sometimes reported on GLP-1 medications alongside appetite and reward changes.

discussion guide

Talking to coworkers when they notice your weight loss

Visible weight loss tends to invite unsolicited comments and questions at work. Here's how to handle them on your own terms, from a quick deflection to a fuller answer.

discussion guide

Talking to family members with a history of disordered eating about your treatment

If someone close to you has a history of disordered eating, discussing your GLP-1 treatment calls for extra care. Here's how to approach it thoughtfully.

discussion guide

Talking to your kids about your GLP-1 treatment and body changes

Kids notice body changes and often ask direct questions. Here's how to talk about your treatment in a way that's honest and age-appropriate, without passing on complicated ideas about weight and worth.

discussion guide

Talking to a new partner about being on a GLP-1 medication

Whether and when to mention a GLP-1 medication to someone you're newly dating is entirely your call — here's how to think through the decision and handle the conversation if you choose to have it.

discussion guide

Talking to your partner about body changes and intimacy during treatment

Significant weight loss changes more than a number on the scale — it can shift dynamics in a relationship in ways worth naming directly, rather than leaving unspoken.