Will Taking a GLP-1 Impact My Mental Health? Emotional and Behavioral Changes to Watch For
In recent years, GLP-1s have become some of the most talked about medications in the medical community. However, despite the extensive attention they’ve received, there is still a lot to learn about GLP-1s, and researchers continue to study and discover more about this recent addition to the world of healthcare.
Wondering if taking a GLP-1 will impact your mental health? Psychologist Jane Hobart, PsyD at Aspire Psychology shares more about what to expect, as well as what to look out for while on a GLP-1.
What are GLP-1 Medications?
Formally known as GLP-1 agonists, GLP-1s are a class of medication primarily used to manage Type 2 diabetes. We also often see these medications used to treat obesity or aid weight loss.
Common GLP-1 medications include:
Ozempic
Trulicity
Victoza
Rybelsus
Adlyxin
How Long Is a Patient Typically on a GLP-1?
A person’s timeline for taking a GLP-1 depends on their weight loss goals, as well as how they react to the medication. A patient with less weight to lose may take the medication for a shorter time than someone aiming to lose more weight. Additionally, patients experiencing significant side effects may stop taking their GLP-1 sooner than someone who doesn’t experience side effects.
Other patients take GLP-1s for a period of time, go off of them for a while, and then resume the medication later as needed. In her work with patients undergoing bariatric surgery, Dr. Hobart observed that many used a GLP-1 to reach a safer weight before surgery, discontinued the medication during the rapid weight loss that followed surgery, and later returned to it if weight regain occurred one or two years later.
Are GLP-1s Safe to Take?
“For now, the FDA has deemed these drugs safe to use,” says Dr. Hobart, “especially for those patients without a known history of mental health concerns.” However, she notes that there is still limited research available, and patients should do as much research as possible before starting a GLP-1. It’s also crucial that patients ensure they receive their medication from a reputable, legitimate source with clear dosing instructions, such as their healthcare provider.
For many, the health benefits of weight reduction and resolving dangerous comorbidities such as sleep apnea and diabetes make it worthwhile to try a GLP-1, despite the possible risks.
Do GLP-1s Impact Your Mental Health?
Current evidence on the relationship between GLP-1 medications and mental health is mixed. Individual experiences vary and may depend on the specific medication used, pre-existing mental health conditions, and each patient’s unique health profile and circumstances.
Both positive and negative mental health impacts have been reported from patients taking GLP-1s. Let’s explore both sides:
Negative Impact of GLP-1s on Mental Health
While there is still much research being done, Dr Hobart shared that some studies suggest that GLP-1s could be associated with increased depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation. One large 2024 study in the journal Scientific Reports found that people with obesity who were taking GLP-1s had a slightly elevated risk of anxiety and suicidal behavior when compared to a control group, and almost double the risk of major depression.
This wasn’t an isolated study. In April 2025, a research article demonstrated how GLP-1s might drive depression and suicidal ideation in people with a genetic predisposition toward low dopamine function. Additionally, a case report presented at the 2024 American Psychiatric Association annual meeting described a patient who developed acute psychiatric symptoms including self-harming behavior three weeks after starting Ozempic. Upon stopping Ozempic, the thoughts and actions slowly reversed.
Socially, GLP-1s can be complicated for those struggling with obesity. Many people with obesity already carry internalized shame and guilt, and while GLP-1s may provide a solution to obesity, they don’t come without stigmas of their own. A. Janet Tomiyama, PhD, a health psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote in a 2025 commentary, “(GLP-1s) have the potential to increase weight stigma, medicalize larger bodies, and shame people for both taking the perceived ‘easy way out’—or not taking it. From a social identity perspective,” she added, “GLP-1 medications could even be perceived as a tool to eradicate an entire social group—those that identify as higher weight.”
Additionally, GLP-1s can impact many areas of a patient’s life—not just their relationship with food and weight—simply due to how they work. The medication dulls a patient’s urges for food and the dopamine rush of eating, which makes weight loss easier. However, Dr. Hobart shares that it can also flatten the rush someone might experience from something completely unrelated, like sex or an exciting life event.
“Anecdotally,” she says, “I have heard about someone having a completely flat affect on a GLP-1 and being completely indifferent to their spouse until they went off of the medication.”
There are also concerns about what happens when the effects of the medication wear off. Typically, a patient will not be on their GLP-1 medication forever; when they stop taking the medication, weight recurrence is possible—which can further affect mood and bring back feelings of shame and guilt.
It’s important to note why a patient wants to lose weight. If an eating disorder is involved, the ability of a GLP-1 to mute feelings of hunger and thoughts of food and simplify weight loss is both counterproductive and dangerous.
It’s also crucial to note that patients should exercise extreme caution in purchasing GLP-1 medications, as many do so online, which can result in misdosing and adverse side effects.
Positive Impact of GLP-1s on Mental Health
Not all GLP-1 experiences are negative. In fact, some patients consider a GLP-1 medication to be the best thing that ever happened to them. In a culture obsessed with weight and food, some patients find that GLP-1s provide a welcome, healthy break from food noise and allow them to focus their attention elsewhere. For these patients, being able to stop thinking about food is a relief, and can lead to an overall healthier lifestyle.
Additionally, while some studies raise concerns about GLP-1s increasing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, other studies point in the opposite direction, noting a decrease in depressive symptoms, improved cognitive function, and an increase in feelings of self-mastery. A 2024 study led by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Thomas A. Wadden, PhD—and funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of semaglutide—found that GLP-1 users without known psychopathology weren’t any more likely to develop depression or suicidal thoughts or actions than controls. They even had a “small but statistically significant” reduction in depressive symptoms.
That said, Dr. Hobart notes that many people report improvements in depressive symptoms following weight loss itself, even without the use of GLP-1 medications. Weight loss alone can enhance mood and increase feelings of hope and possibility, and research shows that people often experience fewer depressive symptoms during the first year after significant weight loss. However, mood symptoms may return if weight is regained, if previous coping patterns reemerge, or if individuals find that weight loss alone does not resolve underlying issues related to relationships, self-esteem, or other psychosocial concerns.
What Should I Do if My GLP-1 Mediation Negatively Impacts My Mental Health?
According to Dr. Hobart, speaking to a medical doctor to set realistic expectations prior to starting a GLP-1 is key. She also suggests speaking to a behavioral health provider beforehand to screen for issues that could exacerbate mental health problems while on the medication, such as eating disorders or unmanaged mental health concerns.
Once you’ve begun taking a GLP-1, it can be easy to get wrapped up in weight loss—but Dr. Hobart says that shouldn’t be a patient’s only priority. “While taking the medication, I recommend continuing to focus on internal change as well as external.” She suggests working with a behavioral health provider or therapist to quickly identify and get help for mental health concerns, work through body image distortions and self-image concerns, and create healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits that can endure long after the patient stops taking the medication.
What Changes Should I Look Out For When Starting a GLP-1?
Keep in mind that the people around you may be more attuned to mood and behavioral changes, especially when you first begin taking a GLP-1. Dr. Hobart suggests asking someone close to you to keep an eye out for changes in mood and sleep, particularly signs of depression, anxiety, or suicidality.
Additionally, as GLP-1s affect your appetite, it’s important to ensure a patient continues to meet their nutritional needs, even if their appetite decreases while on the medication.
Get Support Through Each Step of Your GLP-1 Journey With Aspire Psychology
At Aspire Psychology, we understand that weight loss is a deeply personal journey. Our team of compassionate, patient-centered experts is here to support you each step of the way as you work to achieve a balanced life in all areas—physical, emotional, and beyond.
Ready to get started? Connect with Dr. Hobart or another one of our clinicians today and say yes to all you aspire to be.
