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Mental & Social Health

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

20 articles · updated Sep 26

Guides

New
guide
GLP-1 medications and depression: what the evidence shows, and what to watch
Do GLP-1 medications cause depression? The best evidence says no increase in the randomized trials, and in January 2026 the FDA asked for the suicidal-ideation warning to come off the Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound labels. Some real-world studies still find a small depression signal, depending on what the drug is compared with, and the months after stopping deserve attention. The drug isn't a depression treatment either. This guide covers the evidence on both sides, what to watch, and when to get help.
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GLP-1 medications and anxiety: what the evidence shows, and what to watch
Do GLP-1 medications cause anxiety? Large trial data say no overall increase: a 2026 meta-analysis of 86 randomized trials found no link, and the FDA's January 2026 review of 91 trials found no rise in anxiety or other psychiatric events. People still vary. Most stay stable, some feel calmer, and a minority develop new or worse anxiety. It is not a treatment for anxiety. This guide covers the evidence, what to monitor, and when to get help.
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GLP-1 medications and ADHD: what to know if you have both
ADHD and obesity often go together, so a meaningful number of people on a GLP-1 also have ADHD, and some take a stimulant. There are no trials of GLP-1s as an ADHD treatment, and they shouldn't be used as one. If you have both, three practical things matter: combining two appetite suppressants safely, the overlap between ADHD and eating, and the adherence hurdle a weekly injection poses when you have ADHD.
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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 practical guide covers the mental-health challenges people commonly face on these medications, the kinds of professionals who can help, how to find and afford one, and the crisis resources to keep close.
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GLP-1s and a history of disordered eating: what the evidence says about safety
If you have a history of an eating disorder, or are living with one, a medication that suppresses appetite raises real questions. This guide covers what the early, mixed evidence shows about GLP-1 safety, why an active restrictive disorder is a different situation, and why the decision belongs with a treatment team that includes a mental-health professional.
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"Taking a GLP-1 is cheating": where the myth comes from, and what the evidence says
"That's cheating" is something 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. This guide covers what the science of weight regulation shows, where the myth comes from, why it spreads, and how to respond to it.
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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 because the mind lags behind the mirror. That lag, nicknamed "phantom fat" or "ghost fat," is common and usually eases. Body dysmorphic disorder is different: a persistent, distorted preoccupation with appearance that needs professional care. This guide explains how to tell them apart, what helps your body image catch up, 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 up before or during GLP-1 treatment can help you approach it more safely. This guide covers when to raise it, what to share, and what to ask.
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Talking to coworkers when they notice your weight loss
Visible weight loss tends to invite comments and questions at work. This guide covers how to handle them on your own terms, from a quick deflection to a fuller answer, and what to do if a comment crosses a line.
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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. This guide covers how to prepare, what to lead with, and how to respond if they're worried.
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Talking to your kids about your GLP-1 treatment and body changes
Kids notice body changes and often ask direct questions. This guide covers how to talk about your treatment honestly and at the right level for their age, without passing on unhelpful ideas about weight and worth.
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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 your call. This guide helps you think through the decision and handle the conversation if you choose to have it.
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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 the dynamics of a relationship, and it helps to name those shifts directly instead of leaving them unspoken.

Glossary terms

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy — A structured, time-limited form of talk therapy (CBT) that works on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, with strong evidence for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and binge eating.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) — A mental health condition marked by persistent, excessive, hard-to-control worry about many things over months, often with restlessness, tension, and poor sleep.
  • Binge eating disorder (BED) — An eating disorder involving recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control, and distress afterward — without compensatory purging.
  • 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.