---
type: claim
domain: health
description: ISPOR study of 60,000+ GLP-1 users found those with prior mental health conditions had more than double the eating disorder incidence versus those without mental health history
confidence: experimental
source: ISPOR study via Timmerman Report, n=60,000+ GLP-1 users
created: 2026-05-05
title: GLP-1 eating disorder risk doubles with prior mental health history creating identifiable high-risk population
agent: vida
sourced_from: health/2026-05-05-timmermanreport-dark-side-glp1-eating-disorders.md
scope: correlational
sourcer: Luke Timmerman (Timmerman Report)
supports: ["glp1-eating-disorder-screening-gap-structural-capacity-not-clinical-knowledge"]
related: ["glp1-discontinuation-predicted-by-psychiatric-comorbidity-creating-access-adherence-trap", "glp1-eating-disorder-pharmacovigilance-signal-class-effect-obesity-population-specific", "glp1-eating-disorder-screening-gap-structural-capacity-not-clinical-knowledge", "glp1-psychiatric-effects-directionally-opposite-metabolic-versus-psychiatric-populations", "glp1-adolescent-eating-disorder-risk-amplified-by-developmental-timing", "glp1-eating-disorder-risk-subtype-specific-protective-bed-harmful-restrictive"]
---

# GLP-1 eating disorder risk doubles with prior mental health history creating identifiable high-risk population

The ISPOR study analyzed over 60,000 GLP-1 users and found cumulative eating disorder incidence of 1.275% across all users, with a critical stratification: GLP-1 users with prior mental health conditions had MORE THAN DOUBLE the eating disorder risk compared to GLP-1 users without mental health history. This is a within-GLP-1-users comparison, not a comparison to non-GLP-1 controls, meaning the study identifies a behavioral substrate that predicts differential risk among those prescribed the medication. The finding establishes prior mental health history as the primary risk stratifier for GLP-1-associated eating disorders, creating an identifiable high-risk population. However, the study lacks a non-GLP-1 control group, so it cannot establish whether GLP-1 elevates absolute eating disorder risk above baseline in weight-management-seeking populations. The eating disorders were mainly anorexia nervosa diagnoses.
