Weight loss medications, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have changed the landscape of obesity treatment. They reduce appetite, regulate blood sugar, and can lead to significant weight reduction. For many, this can feel like a breakthrough after years of struggling with dieting and willpower.
However, while these medications address the biological drivers of appetite, they do not address the psychological, emotional, and behavioral patterns that contributed to weight gain in the first place.
Eating behaviors are rarely only about hunger. They are closely tied to stress, emotional regulation, habits, and even identity.
While a person on the medication may no longer feel compelled to eat when anxious, the anxiety itself may remain. While a person may no longer feel compelled to eat when depressed, the depression itself may still remain. When a person may no longer feel compelled to eat when overwhelmed, the feeling of overwhelm itself may remain. Without addressing these patterns at a deeper level, individuals may experience emotional gaps, turning to other unhealthy or dysregulated behaviors to manage unprocessed feelings.
Self-awareness, also known as “inner work”, remains a cornerstone of a an ongoing healthy life. Inner work is the practical, structured engagement with your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In my experience, this is most helpful and most effective when done from the witness-observer perspective. It begins with pausing, then noticing as an observer what you are thinking, how you are feeling, and what you are choosing in any given moment. Over time this witnessing of the self leads to the recognition of personal patterns that keep repeating themselves and cause emotional suffering. Once we can begin to recognize our patterns that characterize ourselves and how we are walking through life, we can then gain greater dominion over our choices. We begin to get curious about other ways we can respond to stress and emotional discomfort without turning to food. We gain more confidence, might reduce self-criticism, and begin building a tool box to navigate life in more healthy and self-compassionate ways.
Medication + Inner Work
Scientific research shows that combining pharmacotherapy (GLP-1 medications) with behavioral interventions (the inner work) such as self-monitoring, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness is far more effective for sustained weight loss than medication alone.
Think of the medication as addressing the physiological aspect of appetite, while inner work addresses the psychological and behavioral aspect. When combined, this dual approach creates a stronger foundation for lasting weight loss as well as a more empowered self within the experience of life.
Ultimately, the medication can accelerate results, but the inner work ensures they last. The combination of science and self-awareness allows for meaningful, sustainable transformation that goes beyond the numbers on the scale!
