Why is it so easy to get weight loss injections, if they could cause you harm?

‘Kate’ has a history of anorexia nervosa and was once hospitalised for the condition. Yet she was able to access GLP1s to control her weight via a telehealth provider, without being screened for an eating disorder. She says it was “criminally easy” and is speaking out to protect others. While Australian data on this issue is not yet published, a study from the United States shows a person with an eating disorder is twice as likely as someone without one, to access GLP1s for weight loss. According to their data, one in five people with eating disorders in the study were currently using them. An Australian clinical psychologist and expert says awareness of the need for eating disorder screening amongst general practitioners is patchy and that more needs to be done to educate about the risks of prescribing weight loss injections to patients.If you or anyone you know needs help with an eating disorder: Butterfly Foundation on 1800 334 673National Eating Disorder CollaborationLifeline on 131 114  Guest/s‘Kate’ person with lived experience of anorexia nervosa  Dr Cheri Levinson, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville and Director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) labDr Nicholas Peiper, Professor, Epidemiology & Population Health, and  Chief Scientist, Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Laboratory, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of LouisvilleDr Sarah Trobe, clinical psychologist and National Director of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC)  ReferencesAHPRA statement on Telehealth providersJAMA Psychiatry: Use and Misuse of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among People With Eating Disorders