GLP with Dr. Kim Dennis
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We’re talking about how these meds affect not just the gut, but the brain too. Apparently, they slow down gastric emptying so our stomachs feel full longer and faster. But did you know that they also mess with our brain's reward circuits? Basically turning down the volume on that "yum, this is so good" feeling we get from our favorite foods.
From diabetes management to appetite suppression and weight loss, these drugs have evolved dramatically. It's not just about tweaking the formulas; it's about hitting more receptors, making them more potent, and ideally minimizing side effects. But don't worry, big pharma's got it covered, right? Just ignore those pesky lawsuits for now.
In this episode, I’m chatting with Dr. Kim Dennis about the science and controversy of GLP medications.
Kim Dennis, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, eating disorders specialist and board-certified in addiction medicine. She specializes in treating eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and complex co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Dr. Dennis also brings lived experience to her work as a physician with long-term recovery from ED, addiction, and developmental trauma.
She is the co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and CEO of SunCloud Health. Dr. Dennis is also on faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as Chief Resident.
She believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social, and spiritual approaches into individually tailored, weight-neutral treatments for each patient.
She serves as a board member for the Eating Disorders Coalition and Galen Mental Health, a member of NEDA’s Clinical Advisory Council, a member of the American Association of Pediatrics Eating Disorders and “Obesity” Workgroup, and past co-chair of AED’s Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders SIG.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
The challenges faced by patients who feel like they've "failed" eating disorder treatment and the impact of treatment not tailored to individual needs.
The reinforcement of feelings of failure by healthcare systems and insurance companies.
The difference between discussions around GLP medications for type 2 diabetes vs weight loss, and the complexities of these conversations.
The importance of discerning the context of GLP medication use.
The lack of sufficient screening for eating disorder risks among those prescribed GLP medications.
The limited and short-term research on the impact of GLP medications on eating disorder symptoms.
How GLP meds can slow down impulsive responses, allowing individuals more time and autonomy over their eating decisions.
How some studies show improvements in eating disorder symptoms, not just reductions in binge eating, although more research is needed.
The lack of comprehensive research on GLP meds' impact on eating disorders and the apparent disinterest from pharmaceutical companies in exploring this further.
The financial incentives for companies to focus on weight loss rather than eating disorder recovery.
Mixed reactions from the eating disorder community about using GLP meds to reduce food noise and binge eating.
The difficulty many Americans, especially those from marginalized communities, face in accessing eating disorder care.
Comparing the stigma around GLP meds for eating disorders to the stigma around Suboxone for opioid use disorder, stressing the need for less judgment and more open dialogue.
The nuanced, patient-centered care and informed consent, acknowledging the unknowns and individual differences in responses to treatment.
The need for healthcare professionals to be aware of their biases and ensure they are not imposing their views on patients, but rather supporting patient autonomy.
Tweetable Quotes
"They never think, well, maybe that treatment isn't tailored to me, or maybe that there's something wrong with that treatment when applied to me." - Dr. Kim Dennis
"When we hit some slumps, whether it's with relationship food or otherwise, it's so much harder to get ourselves out and actually make progress." - Rachelle Heinemann
"Even if I want to stop, I can't, I can press on the brakes, but they're not helping me at all because my brakes are faulty." - Dr. Kim Dennis
"Bolstering the brakes can help people make decisions about what they want to eat, when they want to eat in ways that they feel like they actually have more autonomy over the car, right?" - Dr. Kim Dennis
“Imagine being a patient that has that co-occurrence coming to your eating disorder team's office and being told one thing and going to your endocrine or your primary care office and being told a completely different message." - Dr. Kim Dennis
"We inadvertently sort of reinforce that or insurance reinforces that by saying, for sure, we're denying your care because you're not making progress, or we're denying your care because you've made too much progress." - Dr. Kim Dennis
Resources
Connect with Dr. Kim Dennis Here!
Check out this recent blog from Dr. Kim Dennis
Grab the Replay of the Resistance in Treatment Webinar
Now accepting new clients! Find out if we're a good fit!
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Episode 120. Disordered Eating VS Eating Disorder, Which Is It?
Episode 119. Eating Disorders Don’t Have a Look
Episode 117. Weight Loss, Yay or Nay?
Episode 116. Bariatric Surgery and Eating Disorders with Dr. Marianne Miller
Episode 104. How Anti-Diet Culture Became Like Diet Culture with Jessica Brown
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