Are you considering GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, or Zepbound for weight loss, or do you know someone who is? This conversation provides a nuanced conversation about GLP-1s and considerations around starting them.

In this episode, host Nikki Naab-Levy chats with Kate Lyman, a nutrition coach with a Master's in public health about the unspoken potential ramifications of using these drugs, from a mental health and behavior change perspective.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The difference between the clinical and social media definitions of "food noise".
Why weight loss on a GLP-1 does not automatically equate to better body image or health.
The potential for GLP-1s to replace "food noise" with new fixations or obsessions in (e.g., scale-watching, body composition) in some individuals.
The mixed mental health outcomes of GLP-1s, including studies linking them to an elevated risk of anxiety, major depression, and suicidal behavior in some populations, while others (like those with binge eating disorder) may see positive benefits.
Recommended lifestyle support and interventions that can be used alongside medication to ensure fat loss while protecting and maintaining muscle mass and bone density.
The importance of having coping tools outside of food when a previous coping mechanism is removed.
The cultural and identity shifts that often come with rapid body weight loss and being treated differently by the outside world.
Why these medications are currently intended for long-term use and aren't necessarily an appropriate intervention for all individuals.

Timestamps

00:00 | Intro: Cultural Context, Mental Health, and Nuance about Who Should or Shouldn't Take GLP-1s.
00:40 | Introducing Kate Lyman: Behavioral Health Expert & Nutrition Coach
03:00 | The Need for Education and Behavioral Support with GLP-1s
05:23 | Weight Loss Doesn't Automatically Equal Health: Coping Tools Outside of Food
06:44 | Defining Food Noise Beyond Pop Culture and Social Media
09:41 | The Potential for Obsession Shifts: Food Noise Replaced by Scale Focus
14:56 | Mental Health & GLP-1s: What the Literature Says About Anxiety & Depression
24:10 | Essential Lifestyle Pillars: Protein, Strength Training, and Water Intake
28:06 | The Long-Term Reality of Taking a GLP-1 to Maintain Weight Loss
40:04 | The Role of Stigma & Weight Bias in Influencing GLP-1 Usage

Connect with Kate

Name: Kate Lyman
Instagram: @klnutrition
Website: https://www.katelymannutrition.com/
Podcast: How to Fitness Podcast

Research Studies & Papers Referenced

What Is Food Noise? A Conceptual Model of Food Cue Reactivity [PMID: 38004203]
Association of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists With Risk of Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [PMID: 39945396]
Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in eating disorder populations [PMID: 38135891]

Connect with Nikki

Instagram: @naablevyfitness
Website: http://naablevy.com

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