Abuse of weight loss drugs is nothing new, but “nothing compares to the phenomenon that we’re seeing right now with these GLP-1s,” one provider said.

Over the past six months, psychologist Tom Hildebrandt has seen an increase in patients with eating disorders who are taking popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound.

“They start using this drug and next thing you know, they’ve developed what looks very much like anorexia nervosa,” said Hildebrandt, who leads Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence in Eating and Weight Disorders in New York City.

The blockbuster medications have been hailed as wonder drugs for their profound effects on diabetes and weight loss, but a growing number of doctors are concerned that the medications are triggering or worsening eating disorders in some people.