GLP-1 Medications, Food Noise & Weight Stigma | With Aoife McMahon

GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now, but are they appropriate to use in the context of healing relationship with food and long-term wellbeing?In this episode of Food is Food, Talia is joined by eating disorder dietitian Aoife McMahon for a compassionate, nuanced conversation about GLP-1 medications, weight stigma and food noise.Together, they chat about how GLP-1 medications work, why they’ve become so popular, and the growing concerns around nutrition, food preoccupation, eating disorder risk, and long-term outcomes. They also explore the rise of the term “food noise,” the impact of diet culture and healthcare stigma, and why individualised care matters so much.Episodes drop every Thursday.What You’ll Learn:What GLP-1 medications are and how they influence appetite, fullness, and food pleasureThe potential nutritional risks and side effects associated with GLP-1 medicationsHow GLP-1 use may intersect with disordered eating, eating disorders, and food preoccupationWhy “food noise” may actually reflect hunger, restriction, or disconnection from body cuesThe role weight stigma and healthcare inequality play in access to GLP-1 medicationsResources & Links:Follow Aoife on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatirishdietitian/ Aoife’s website: www.centreforliberatingnutrition.comListen to Aoife McMahon’s podcast: Inside BariatricsKey Research Referenced:Ryan, D. H. et al. (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. Nature Medicine, 30(7), 2049–2057. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02996-7Ragen Chastain Substack ArticleAbout our Guest:Aoife McMahon is a CORU and HCPC Registered Dietitian specialising in relationship with food, body image, and inclusive nutrition care. Aoife has extensive experience across bariatric care, GLP-1 support, and weight management services. She is passionate about helping people navigate these complex decisions with less shame and more autonomy, recognising that the desire to pursue weight loss is deeply understandable in a world where weight loss products, treatments, and messaging are everywhere. Aoife is the host of podcast: Inside Bariatrics.Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & introduction01:02 – What GLP-1 medications are and how they work05:00 – Appetite suppression, food pleasure & side effects07:16 – Safe GLP-1 use in eating disorder recovery17:40 – Why relationship with food support matters alongside GLP-1s19:38 – Weight stigma, healthcare inequality & access to medications25:05 – What the research says about long-term GLP-1 outcomes29:00 – Weight stigma in healthcare settings36:58 – “Food noise” vs food preoccupation explainedConnect with Talia:Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutritionFood Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpodWebsite & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact Support the Podcast:If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by:Following or subscribing to the podcastLeaving a 5* reviewSharing this episode with someone who might find it helpfulDisclaimer:This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.