Depression is NOT commonly reported as a side effect of weight loss drugs, however it is possible for any medication to impact mood or mental health.
The most reported side effects of these medications include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, and constipation. This is because they work to slow the transit of food through your digestive system.
If we think scientifically about diets, people can have mood changes from fluctuations in blood sugar (if they either change their diet or if they drastically reduce their calories).
Most people feel depressed about their body image if they are thinking of starting a diet, so it’s a negative feeling before you even begin!
There’s also likely a change in your emotional wellbeing if food is “your world”, and your sole pleasure is from eating and drinking.
Some people feel like dieting is like losing their best friend. Similarly, alcoholics report missing their support system when they give up alcohol.
The way to help overcome this situation is to find, or spend, more time on other activities that give you joy.
The problem is only exacerbated if food is your only happiness, and you rely on it to feel good (a dopamine hit).
Ensure that your emotional wellbeing is supported by many activities during the day, not just based around food (or alcohol).
Other activities that can increase our natural happy hormones, like dopamine, include exercise, spending time outdoors, and social activities.
You may have social activities planned around meals, and quite often family time is built around preparing food or eating together. So, think of other ways to bring your tribe together that doesn’t always include meals or drinks.
Ceasing eating or drinking is NOT part of this program, it’s very important to try to eat healthy and nutritious food, around 1200 calories per day.
Neither is the aim to eradicate hunger completely. It’s rather to reduce food noise, and enable you to eat less but feel satisfied, and select sensible, high protein, or low glucose foods when you are hungry.
You can have limited alcohol whilst on the medication, but it’s not advisable to have more than 6-10 units weekly.
Media reports on patients having depression on weight loss drugs need to include the hard facts that depression or anxiety is already endemic in our society. According to MIND, one in six adults are affected by depression in the UK (2025).
Weight loss or lifestyle changes are more likely to have positive effects rather than negative ones on your mental health.
Imagine feeling more body confident, so you can start exercising, or having better flexibility, less pain in your joints and muscles, so you can get physically and mentally strong
If you have pre-existing mental health conditions, these could be exacerbated during treatment, so it’s essential you tell us about this prior to the program to evaluate the situation and discuss potential adjustments to treatment.
