03/02/2026
I know this may not land comfortably for everyone, and I want to say upfront that my intention is NOT by any sense, criticism or judgment. I just simply tend to speak about the topics that many people think about privately but hesitate to voice publicly. I share from a place of observation and care, not condemnation, i promise!!. I always try my best to put myself in other people’s shoes on a daily basis, and here, my hope is simply to offer some awareness and perspective, because awareness is where meaningful change begins.
Lately it feels like the entire world is on a GLP-1 or weight loss medication. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro , zepbound and whatever else is out there. I’m sure we all have some friends and family on these drugs, and hopefully it is helping them become healthier in every possible way. So before I say anything else, this is NOT a judgment post. These medications absolutely have a place and are helping so many. They work wonders for some individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance, or certain blood pressure or metabolic conditions, and they can be incredibly helpful and even life-changing.
But as a counselor, I am noticing something that no one is really talking about. I often sit with individuals who are struggling deeply with self-love and self-esteem, emotional dysregulation of disordered eating . Many of them come into my office feeling not good enough, uncomfortable in their bodies, disconnected from themselves, or carrying years of internalized shame. And more and more lately, I am hearing some version of, “I think I’m just going to try that weight loss drug.”
When you work closely with people and you see firsthand the dynamics of low self-worth, harmful emotional coping patterns, and the longing to finally feel confident or acceptable, and then you watch them turn toward something that promises quick external change, it opens your eyes a bit. It makes you stop and think…Not because the medication itself is wrong, but because you start to see what may really be driving the decision underneath. Often it is not just about better health or looking thinner….It is about wanting relief from some lack of healthy coping, feeling of not being enough, and judging yourself for it. Not always…But often enough.
I also know and work with many people who have lifelong struggles with their appearance. Thats ok and understandable…Some of them are, or have always been very thin, and yet they still stand in front of the mirror and only see flaws. They judge themselves, they compare and they constantly diet or adjust their lifestyle so they feel better. They chase a version of themselves that always feels just slightly out of reach. When someone has spent years believing they are not enough in their own skin, it becomes clear that the issue was never truly about the number on the scale. And when that internal void is still there, it can be tempting to turn to whatever promises relief, hoping this time it will finally quiet the self-criticism
What in really trying to bring to light here is that weight loss does not automatically heal the emotional roots of eating or overeating. Overeating is rarely just about hunger. It is often about comfort, self-soothing, numbing, stress relief, loneliness, or unresolved pain. For many people, food became the safest and most accessible coping mechanism at some point in their life. It filled something. It calmed something. It distracted from something. And unless we get curious about what that “something” is, the deeper need is still sitting there.
Yes, when someone loses weight, confidence often increases. Clothes fit differently and the mirror reflects something new. The compliments come in and that external shift can feel empowering. But if the internal wounds have not been addressed, the focus can quietly shift rather than truly resolve. Instead of using food to cope, the mind can begin obsessing over numbers or appearance. The scale becomes the new source of validation or fear. Gaining even a few pounds can trigger anxiety, shame, or panic. The same lack of self-love that existed before simply attaches itself to a different behavior.
And this is especially important for those who have ever struggled with disordered eating patterns in the past. For some individuals, appetite suppression can reignite old restrictive tendencies, rigid control patterns, or obsessive thinking around food and weight. What once looked like bingeing may morph into hyper-control. What once felt chaotic can become intensely rigid. On the surface it appears healthier, but internally the same perfectionism, fear, and “not good enough” narrative is still running the show.
That is not true freedom. That is just a different version of the same struggle.
If someone chooses to use a weight loss medication, it is so important to do the emotional work alongside it. To ask honestly: What was food doing for me? What emotions was I avoiding? Why al i self-sabotaging or possibly lacking self control? Where did my self-worth become tied to my body? Do I believe I am more lovable or desirable at a certain weight? What would it look like to build self-compassion independent of a number?
Medication can help regulate appetite. It does not automatically build emotional regulation. It does not heal attachment wounds. It does not repair self-esteem. It does not teach you how to sit with uncomfortable feelings without reaching for something outside yourself.
There is also a medical side to this conversation that many people are not fully aware of. These medications are not appropriate for everyone. Certain thyroid conditions, especially a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, endocrine tumor syndromes, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, significant gastrointestinal disorders, and some blood clotting or vascular concerns require serious caution. It is important that people get tested prior to using amd that decisions are made carefully and medically supervised, not simply because well everyone else is doing it, why cant I??
We are living in a time that celebrates fast results and instant gratification. But healing is layered…It is SLOW and VERY personal. And most importantly it requires awareness.
If weight loss is part of someone’s journey, that is absolutely wonderful! But self-love and self-understanding need to be part of that journey too. Otherwise, the roots that were there in the beginning remain untouched, and they will eventually surface again in another form.
You deserve more than a smaller body. You deserve peace and love inside your own skin. My sincere wish for you is not just better health, weight loss or change on the outside, but a genuine sense of peace, worthiness, and acceptance on the inside. 🙏💜🙏
Christine
The Guiding Light Life Coaching✨💜
