After many requests and nuanced conversations - and some real soul searching on my part - I have created a guide to GLP-1 medications so that folks can make an informed, compassionate decision about taking them, or not.
This was not easy. When these drugs first came out, I was devastated. I hated that the industries of the diet culture poured so much money and time and effort into finding the next best thing for weight loss - despite all the evidence of harm from intention weight loss efforts. To me this was such magical thinking: to see the harms (of weight loss, fatphobia, etc.) and yet keep hoping "the thing" that will allow people to lose weight and keep it off is right around the corner.
And yet...that's what GLP-1 drugs feel like for a lot of people.
What I'm realizing is that there are no easy answers when it comes to our bodies. For years I wanted to deal with my mental health issues "naturally" and felt badly about taking antidepressants. Then I realized, why should I hold myself to that standard when everything about our culture and environment is unnatural!?
I'm beginning to see the choice of taking GLP-1 drugs similarly: if there is something you could do to make your day-to-day life a little easier, even if you are committed to body liberation, shouldn't you be able to make that choice without guilt or shame?
I believe we are here on Earth to take care of one another and that we do that best when we feel safe and cared for in our bodies. My role as an eating disorder dietitian is not to tell you how to feel safe and cared for in your body but to support you to identify the questions that will help you come to the right conclusion. For yourself. For right now.
That is why I've written this guide. What you'll find inside includes:
What GLP 1 drugs are, how they work, and what they were originally designed to treat
Why they're so controversial - including their cultural, psychological, and political implications
The broader cultural forces shaping our desires - including fatphobia, anti-Blackness, distorted masculinity, and beauty ideals rooted in white supremacy
How to assess your own motivations, internalized pressures, and lived experiences
The potential risks, side effects, and ripple effects of GLP-1s - physical, emotional, and relational.
What might happen if you stop taking them - and how to navigate that with care
What a harm reduction approach can look like - whether you take the drugs, avoid them, or are still deciding
How to stay rooted in your values, body trust, and self-compassion, no matter what you choose
The guide is available on my website for $9. I hope that the information helps you better understand this landscape and work with the nuance of this complicated decision.
I truly appreciate this guide. It’s sometimes challenging to reconcile different types of beliefs and emotions. Ultimately, it’s each person’s choice.
Thank you for creating this. I’m one of the people who have tried not to be judgmental about these drugs but it keeps coming back to me. AND on those days when I have trouble dealing with my own weight, I find myself wishing I thought the drugs were a good idea. I am going to buy the guide because I believe I can trust you to filter out the noise.