• course Info

GLP-1 Medications in Eating Disorder Care: Navigating the Clinical and Ethical Crossroads

CE Hours 1.5

About this course

The rapid expansion in the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), including medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, is reshaping the landscape of eating disorder treatment. Originally developed for diabetes management, GLP-1s are now widely prescribed for weight loss and other metabolic conditions, placing eating disorder clinicians at the intersection of two evolving fields. As more clients present on these medications, sometimes prior to treatment, sometimes while actively engaged in care, providers are confronted with new clinical, ethical, and therapeutic challenges. This panel brings together experienced professionals across nutrition and psychiatry to examine the complex realities of GLP-1 use in eating disorder populations. The session will explore how these medications influence appetite, digestion, interoception, and reward circuitry, and how these effects interact with existing eating disorder symptoms and recovery goals. Particular attention will be paid to the complications GLP-1s pose for nutritional adequacy, hunger and satiety cues, and emotional and behavioral regulation. Panelists will present clinical examples, outcomes data, and emerging research to unpack both the risks and possible benefits of GLP-1s, including their role in food-related cognition, mood, and co-occurring substance use disorders. The discussion will also address the sociocultural forces such as weight stigma, provider pressure, and moralized health messaging that contribute to client ambivalence and lack of disclosure of GLP-1 use. Emphasis will be placed on practical strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration, respectful engagement with prescribers, and client-centered care planning that balances medical realities with recovery-oriented goals. The panel will offer concrete tools for risk assessment, therapeutic dialogue, and harm reduction for clients with a history of disordered eating, as well as guidance for navigating the mental health impacts and ethical tensions raised by these medications. This session does not offer a blanket endorsement or condemnation of GLP-1s. Rather, it invites clinicians to meet this moment with nuance, curiosity, and clinical rigor.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the emotional, behavioral, and psychological effects of GLP-1s in patients with diabetes and eating disorders, including how these may support or complicate recovery.
  • List at least two factors that increase nutrition risk for individuals with eating disorders who are prescribed GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist medications.
  • Explain at least one mental health risk associated with GLP-1s.

Learning Levels

  • Intermediate

Course Instructor(s)

  • Molly Perlman, MD, MPH, CEDS-C

    Molly M. Perlman, MD, MPH, CEDS, FAPA is Chief Medical Officer of Monte Nido and Affiliates (MNA), overseeing psychiatric and medical care at over 50 facilities across the nation. She is double board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, graduated from Duke University and the University of Miami, and has trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. During residency in Psychiatry, Dr. Perlman served as Chief Resident and was awarded the Laughlin Fellowship, which is bestowed annually on 12 elite residents for outstanding leadership and significant achievements in psychiatry

    Dr. Perlman is on the Board of Directors of the Eating Disorders Coalition, served as Vice President of the Board from 2018 through 2022, and advocates on Capitol Hill regularly for increasing eating disorder education and access to treatment. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. Dr. Perlman serves as Assistant Professor at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Coalition Representing Eating Disorder Care (REDC), co-chair of the REDC Standards Committee, and is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Credentialing Committee and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) Medical Care Standards Committee. Additionally, she oversees MNA's IRB-approved research study on clinical outcomes as Co-Principal Investigator and has co-authored several papers in peer-reviewed research journals on PTSD and eating disorders.

  • Melainie Rogers, MS, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-S

    Melainie Rogers is the Founder and CEO of BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™ a premium outpatient treatment center in New York City. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Consultant/Supervisor (CEDS-C).

    Melainie is passionate about educating the next generation of Registered Dietitians and does this through her role as an adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition at New York University, as well as with the Mentor Program through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp).

    Melainie sits on several boards including the Residential Eating Disorder Coalition (REDC) Board, and the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia Advisory Board in New York City.

  • Lauren Newman, RD, LD, CDCES, CEDS

    Lauren Newman, RD, LD, CDCES, CEDS, is a dietitian, diabetes specialist, and eating disorder specialist whose group private practice, Lauren Newman Nutrition Therapy, focuses on treating eating disorders in individuals with diabetes. Her work centers around helping clients find freedom and flexibility with food while maintaining medical and emotional well-being. Lauren has extensive experience supporting people with co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders, including those using GLP-1 medications as part of their treatment. Her approach is rooted in weight-inclusive, evidence-based care. Lauren is especially passionate about thoughtful, ethical conversations around GLP-1 use in those with eating disorders, and exploring how they fit into eating disorder care.

  • Eva Maria Trujillo, MD, CEDS, FAED

    Dr. Eva Ma. Trujillo Chi Vacuán, MET, FAED, CEDS, FAAP, Fiaedp Dr. Trujillo graduated with Magna Cum Laude from medical school and residency at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. She completed postgraduate studies in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technologies and is currently a doctoral candidate in Biomedicine and Health Sciences at the Universidad Europea de Madrid.

    Dr. Trujillo is an internationally recognized leader in the field of eating disorders and mental health. With over 26 years of experience, she has been a pioneer in developing innovative models of treatment, education, prevention, and research in Mexico and Latin America.

    As Co-founder and Executive Director of Comenzar de Nuevo A.C., she and her team have transformed the lives of more than 15,000 patients and families, establishing the only center in Latin America that offers all levels of care for these conditions. She is the principal investigator in Mexico for the Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative (EDGI and EDGI2) in collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the University of North Carolina, and several other international institutions. She also leads multiple epidemiological, validation, and treatment studies in EDs and mental health across the region. Dr. Trujillo introduced the Body Image Program (BIP) to Latin America, training professionals in 11 countries. She co-founded Habilita, a free support initiative for parents based on a caregiver-to-caregiver model. She is the author of numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and books on eating disorders, mental health, and related topics.

    She devotes countless hours to clinical care, and is the backbone of the program she created. Her vision has raised the standard of treatment in Mexico and serves as a model for other Latin American countries. Dr. Trujillo has turned a small non-profit organization into a regional powerhouse for ED and mental health services. She serves on the Health Subcommittee of the Strategic Planning Council for Nuevo León 2040, the Advisory Council of Universidad del Valle de México, and the National Council for Addiction Prevention (Chapter NL). She has served on advisory boards for governmental and non- governmental organizations in Mexico and abroad.

    She mentors numerous professionals and teaches in multiple graduate programs, including clinical faculty at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Tecnológico de Monterrey, faculty for the Eating Disorders Master’s program at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile, and faculty for similar programs at the Universidad Europea de Madrid, Universidad de Palermo (Argentina), and Centro de Terapia Cognitivo Conductual COGNOS. She directs diploma programs on EDs and mental health at Comenzar de Nuevo. She conducts and funds research to advance the field in Mexico and Latin America, and has led efforts to develop treatment guidelines and public policy. She is a recognized advocate for patients and a leader in developing evidence-based programs for treatment, prevention, and professional education.

    As a public policy advocate, she played a key role in incorporating eating disorders into the Health Law of the State of Nuevo León, ensuring access to care. She advocated in the Mexican House of Representatives to establish June 2 as the National Eating Disorders Action Day, aligning with the global initiative she helped lead. Since 2020, she has advised global platforms such as Meta and TikTok on safety policies related to body image and EDs. She developed the first free ED helpline for Mexico and Latin America, connected to social media platforms through a collaboration agreement.

    Her leadership has been recognized globally. In 2016, she became the first and only Latina President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and she currently serves as President of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) for the 2025–2028 term—the first non-U.S. president in the organization’s 40-year history. She has founded or led most of the professional ED associations in Mexico and Latin America, mentoring the next generation of leaders. She has been invited to speak at over 350 conferences in 37 countries, including high-impact events such as the United Nations World ED Summit, the World Psychiatric Congress, and the Clinton Global Initiative.

    Among her numerous recognitions are her inclusion in Forbes Mexico’s “100 Most Powerful Women” (2023), the Carlos Canseco Medal of Merit (2022), and the Mujer Tec Award (2023) in the Health and Wellness category. Internationally, she has received the Public Service Award (2013) and the Award for Clinical, Administrative and Educational Leadership (2022) from AED, as well as the Special Recognition for Service to EDs (2014) from iaedp. She was designated Fellow of AED (2006), iaedp (2013) and AAP (2004).

    Throughout her career, Dr. Trujillo has combined academic excellence, a deep commitment to public health, and a spirit of innovation to transform the landscape of ED care in Latin America and beyond.

References

  • Radkhah, H., Rahimipour Anaraki, S., Parhizkar Roudsari, P., Arabzadeh Bahri, R., Zooravar, D., Asgarian, S., ... & Khalooeifard, R. (2025). The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists in the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 30(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01720-9
  • Look, M., Dunn, J. P., Kushner, R. F., Cao, D., Harris, C., Gibble, T. H., ... & Griffin, R. (2025). Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT‐1 study of adults with obesity or overweight. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 27(5), 2720-2729. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.16275
  • De Giorgi, R., Ghenciulescu, A., Dziwisz, O., Taquet, M., Adler, A. I., Koychev, I., ... & Harmer, C. J. (2025). An analysis on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cognitive and mental health disorders. Nature Mental Health, 3(3), 354-373. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00390-x

CE Process Info

Content

GLP-1 Medications in Eating Disorder Care: Navigating the Clinical and Ethical Crossroads
You Have Completed This course
$32
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  • CE Hours
    1.5
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Feb 15th, 2026

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