Mounjaro, Mental Health, and Eating Disorders: Important Considerations

Weight loss medications can be powerful tools, but they're not right for everyone. If you have a history of eating disorders or significant mental health concerns, extra care is needed.

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Why This Matters

Mounjaro works by reducing appetite and changing your relationship with food. For most people, this is helpful. But for some, these changes can:

• Reinforce restrictive eating patterns
• Trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviours
• Affect mood and mental wellbeing
• Create unhealthy relationships with food and body image

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Who Should Be Extra Cautious

History of Eating Disorders

If you've had anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders, weight loss medication requires very careful consideration. The appetite suppression effect could potentially trigger relapse or reinforce harmful patterns.

This doesn't mean medication is always off-limits, but it should only be considered with:

• Full disclosure to your prescriber
• Involvement of your mental health team
• Close monitoring throughout treatment
• A structured nutrition plan that prevents restriction

Active Mental Health Conditions

Significant depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions don't automatically exclude you from treatment, but they require:

• Stable mental health before starting
• Awareness that rapid weight/body changes can affect mood
• Regular check-ins monitoring psychological wellbeing

Body Dysmorphia

If you have severely distorted body image, weight loss medication may not address the underlying issue and could potentially worsen psychological distress.

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Warning Signs During Treatment

Seek help if you notice:

• Fear of eating or extreme restriction
• Preoccupation with weight beyond healthy interest
• Worsening depression or anxiety
• Binge-restrict cycling
• Using the medication as "permission" to eat less and less
• Intrusive negative thoughts about your body
• Any thoughts of self-harm

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Healthier Approaches

If medication is appropriate for you, support includes:

• Working with a dietitian to ensure adequate nutrition
• Setting non-scale goals (energy, fitness, health markers)
• Regular mental health check-ins
• Having support people who know you're on treatment

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When Medication May Not Be Right

Medication may be inappropriate if:

• You're in active eating disorder recovery
• Your mental health is currently unstable
• Your primary goal is appearance rather than health
• You don't have adequate support systems

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Getting Appropriate Assessment

At Well Revolution, we screen for factors that might make treatment inadvisable and can connect you with appropriate support. Be honest in your consultation, it helps us keep you safe.