Overview
- The UCL systematic review, published on July 15, pooled 25 randomized controlled trials from 12 countries and 8,069 participants and found moderate reductions in binge episodes, loss-of-control eating and emotional eating.
- The drugs studied included semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide, which work by suppressing appetite, slowing stomach emptying and likely altering brain reward and impulse-control pathways.
- Most of the trials had a high risk of bias, were short-term and often sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, and only a small number specifically enrolled people with a clinical diagnosis of binge eating disorder.
- Experts and patient groups warn the evidence does not justify routine prescribing and recommend combining any drug use with psychological therapies plus careful screening and monitoring for eating-disorder harms.
- Broader concerns include limited public-health access and high out-of-pocket costs, risks of misuse or off-label use, and studies showing stopping GLP‑1s commonly leads to weight regain and reversal of some health gains.