Weight Loss Drugs: Miracle Cure Or A Way Of Masking Emotion?

As weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic gain mainstream popularity, there’s a temptation, and even an unspoken social pressure, for people to use them even when they don’t have a medical need for them. This raises complex questions that will probably take several years to unravel: after all, being overweight or addicted to sugar is bad for us. 

However in the meantime, turning to weight loss drugs can deepen the hidden emotional problems that often prevent people from being able to lose weight or make healthy food choices in the first place. Here a look at why addressing these issues rather than reaching for a quick fix can work much better in the long run. 

If you are struggling with sugar cravings or other disordered eating habits and nothing you have tried so far seems to help, you might be interested in hypnotherapy at our Harley Street clinic. This can address the subconscious thoughts and emotions that drive your behaviour, and your therapist will work with you to develop new healthier strategies. 

Why can sugar get such a grip on us?

Sugar is naturally present in foods such as fruits and sweet vegetables, and most of the time all of our body’s needs are met through these sources. Naturally occurring sugars are generally not harmful, because they are bound in the fibre of plant cells, and our body has to break down the fibre in order to release the sugar.

This not only slows down the rate of absorption and minimises spikes in blood sugar, but it also helps us to feel full and provides more sustained energy levels, reducing the likelihood of food cravings.  

However, ‘free’ sugars that are added to many foods such as cakes, biscuits and even bread and sauces, are not bound up in cells, but freely circulate in the body shortly after we eat them. This provides an instant hit of energy and lights up the reward system in the brain, which stimulates the appetite further. 

The release of dopamine also soothes difficult emotions such as anxiety, boredom, shame, or sadness. However, the sugar spike is soon followed by a crash, and so we reach for the next fix. This provides temporary relief, but only adds to negative feelings as we feel weak and guilty about our lack of control. 

Why weight loss drugs aren’t the answer

GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy work by suppressing the appetite, and they have been shown to be beneficial for people who have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, or who are clinically obese. 

However, these drugs have rapidly been adopted by people who want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, and for some, this could be a way of masking the habit of emotional eating. While the drugs are effective at removing the desire to eat, they do not address the complex underlying emotions that drove the original problem. 

Some users of weight loss drugs report that they feel emotionally numb, and even when their desired body shape has been achieved, it doesn’t bring them the sense of acceptance or contentment that they hoped it would. 

Even for those who don’t take weight loss drugs, their impact can still be felt: there has been a cultural shift away from body positivity and acceptance of size diversity, and back towards weight stigma. This can undo the hard work many people have put in to accept and celebrate themselves as they are. 

Learning to listen to your body 

Ultimately, when we trust our bodies and learn to listen to our appetite, it is possible to develop a balanced approach to nourishing ourselves without resorting to medication or the constant cycle of emotional eating followed by guilt and shame. 

The key to a healthy relationship with food lies in understanding your emotional drivers and treating them with compassion and curiosity, rather than fear or judgement. Cutting out all sugar at once is unrealistic, and will probably lead to a binge and sense of failure at some stage. 

Instead, cut back gradually, making small swaps such as a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts instead of a chocolate bar. Allow yourself to have treats when you feel like it, but gradually steer your eating habits towards unprocessed foods with natural sugars.

This way, you will learn that food is not your enemy, and you already have all the tools you need to feel in control and healthy.