Eating disorder (ED) dietitians bring a compassionate, highly nuanced skillset to conversations around incretin therapies (GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists). Because our work is rooted in body respect, psychological safety, and clinical rigor. ED dietitians are uniquely positioned to guide clients through the physical and emotional complexities these medications bring.
| Competency Area | Clinical Application in Incretin (GLP-1/GIP) Therapy |
| Dismantling Diet Culture & Weight Stigma | Supporting clients to understand and spot diet culture and weight stigma. Gently unpack internalised weight bias, noisy societal messaging, and influencer hype—shifting the focus away from shrinking bodies and toward true, meaningful health outcomes. |
| Collaborative Risk & Safety Management | Advocating for the client within their multidisciplinary team to keep physical and psychological safety front and center, ensuring medication side effects (like early fullness or nausea) don’t mask or trigger active eating disorder behaviors. |
| Aligning with Psychological Frameworks | Seamlessly weaving nutrition therapy alongside mental health frameworks (such as CBT-E, FBT, ACT, and DBT), so medical interventions support—rather than disrupt—their ongoing recovery work. |
| Trauma-Informed & Psychological Nuance | Holding space for how trauma, anxiety, neurodivergence, and rigid food rules intersect with altered gut-brain signaling, helping clients navigate changes in satiety with safety and curiosity. |
| Metabolic Health Meets ED Safety | Applying individualised evidence based, weight inclusive, health and behaviour focused interventions to support metabolic health (like blood glucose and cardiovascular markers) without falling back on restrictive, prescriptive, or triggering diet rules. Applying NEDC Eating Disorder Safe guidelines to all practice to ensure minimising harm. |
| Empowered Informed Consent & Psychoeducation | Ensure that clients fully understand any health risks or metabolic dysregulation they are experiencing. Helping client understand the etiology of these and trajectories and identifying what is and is not in their control. Providing a range of evidenced based interventions to trial and the potential benefits and risks of each. Tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of each individuals including navigating individual barriers. Translating complex physiology and drug mechanisms into clear, accessible language so consumers are fully informed about the current research regarding effectiveness and risk of Incretins therapy medication. Clearly outline potential side effects, including risk of malnutrition, muscle and bone loss and are aware of impact when these medications are ceased. Ensuring clients are aware of ongoing costs related to these medications. Supporting clients to take time to make these decisions and consult with necessary multidisciplinary care team members to ensure this decision is fully informed. Support the clients decision and body autonomy with individualised medical nutrition therapy to minimise harm and optimise health outcomes. |
| Individualized & Adaptive Care | Meeting each person exactly where they are. We honor their readiness, insight, and shifting needs rather than pushing blanket rules, holding a non-judgmental space to build intrinsic motivation. Creating individualised interventions responding to each clients unique situation. Pacing support to meet their readiness to change and pivoting as needed. |
Core Strengths ED Dietitians Bring to GLP-1/GIP Conversations
We’re Jo and Christie—Accredited Practising Dietitians and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians with a shared passion for disordered eating, eating disorders and body image work.
Our resources are developed alongside people with lived experience and designed for health professionals who want to deliver high-quality, client-centred care.