The mental health impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs | Charlotte Ord | #066 Mastering Change

The rise of GLP-1 medications has changed the conversation around weight, health and body image. But what happens when weight loss is mistaken for wellbeing? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Charlotte Ord – a counselling psychologist specialising in body image and eating disorder recovery, with a background in fitness, strength and conditioning, NHS bariatric and weight management services.  Charlotte reflects on the complexity of this moment. GLP-1 medications may have an important place for some people, but she warns that the current conversation around them risks pulling us backwards into diet culture, weight stigma and the pursuit of thinness.  For people with poor body image, disordered eating or eating disorder histories, suppressing appetite may remove one visible behaviour without addressing the underlying wound. As Charlotte explains, health is not simply about eating less or changing the body’s appearance – it also includes body trust, nourishment, movement, metabolic fitness and psychological safety.  We discuss: The impact of GLP-1 medications on body image and eating disorder recovery Why weight loss is not the same as health How diet culture is re-emerging in new forms The importance of body diversity and representation Why we need to see bodies valued for what they can do, not just how they look What a more meaningful definition of healthy weight could look like This conversation offers a thoughtful, compassionate look at one of the most urgent and complicated topics in mental health today. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.