Key takeaways:
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are helping a lot of people with weight and blood sugar management. But their effect on mental health is mixed.
There are some common triggers for increased stress while taking a GLP-1. These include fatigue from low caloric intake, managing side effects, and difficulty affording the medication.
GLP-1s may also increase stress in subtle ways that can be harder to identify. These include factors like a changing relationship with your body, strain on your personal relationships, or even increasing feelings of depression or anxiety.
There are actions you can take to help alleviate stress related to taking GLP-1s — like incorporating daily movement, practicing self-care, and connecting with others.
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As GLP-1s increase in popularity, people are discovering how they might also cause some unexpected mental health effects. For some, these can be daily stressors like managing the side effects or trying to figure out the best way to eat. Others might be noticing a direct impact on their mood or general anxiety. So we wanted to take a closer look at the different ways GLP-1s might be affecting your stress levels, and offer some tips to help.
Do GLP-1s cause stress and anxiety?
We know a lot about how GLP-1s affect blood sugar and weight. But whether they cause stress and anxiety — or any other mental health effects — isn’t as certain. Before we dive into the daily stressors that might come up, we wanted to first review the ongoing research about the effects of GLP-1s on mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Because so far, the research is mixed.
Some recent research shows that GLP-1s have a positive effect on mental health. In fact, one study of over 4 million people found that taking GLP-1s decreased the likelihood of depression or anxiety. And another review of multiple studies found that taking GLP-1s decreased depression and increased quality of life.
But another study from 2024 showed an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in people taking GLP-1s. And some research suggests that certain individuals taking GLP-1s might have a genetic predisposition for negative mental health effects.
So, researchers are still trying to understand the direct impact of GLP-1s on mental health conditions. But short of this, GLP-1s can still increase stress levels in people who don’t have these conditions.
What are some causes of increased stress from GLP1s?
GLP-1s can come with daily life changes that can increase someone’s everyday stress levels. Below are some of the common ones people experience.
Low energy levels
GLP-1s cause you to eat less calories. This helps with weight loss, but it can also lead to fatigue as your body adjusts to lower calorie intake. When you have low energy, you may find that this can lower your mood. Your usual daily activities might even take a little extra effort. And that can lead to increased stress.
Side effects
The most common side effects of GLP-1s are gastrointestinal side effects. These include nausea, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. They tend to be worse when first starting the medication, and they improve when your body adjusts to the medication. But managing these side effects from day to day can take a toll on your energy and stress level, especially when it can be hard to predict when they will occur.
Sleep changes
GLP-1s haven’t been directly linked to worse sleep. But people may still experience some sleep problems while taking these medications. Oftentimes, sleep issues arise as a result of side effects. And poor sleep can have effects on your health and response to stress.
Financial stress
Affordability can be a major source of stress when starting GLP-1s. Navigating insurance coverage and choosing a treatment based on financial coverage can be hard. Finding a healthcare professional who is helpful in this regard is important to help lessen this stressor.
Medication management
Another factor that can lead to stress is the overall learning process that comes with starting a new medication. This is especially true for injectable medications. Dosage changes and pharmacy shortages for your specific treatment can add to the stress involved. And if you need to stop therapy unintentionally for any reason, the stress of stopping and restarting might be significant.
Relationship strain
Starting a GLP-1 can lead to increased stress around relationships and social life. For example, taking a GLP-1 can:
Lead to unwanted attention, comments, or questions from others about your weight or body
Make it harder to navigate social gatherings that revolve around food, or even alcohol
Put strain on romantic relationships if you feel like your partner isn’t fully supportive of your treatment choice, or struggling with their own weight as well
Decrease sexual desire, which can also put a strain on romantic relationships
Self-image
Weight loss — especially when it happens quickly — often feels encouraging and positive for people. But at the same time, it can also feel a bit disorienting as you adjust to a changing body size. You may find:
You pay more attention to societal ideals around body size, which can be upsetting.
People are reacting or responding to you differently.
Seeing yourself in the mirror or dressing yourself feels unfamiliar.
You spend more time thinking about weight and size than you did before.
Even though GLP-1s are helping a lot of people, there’s also concern that the rising popularity of GLP-1s may be increasing the stigmatization of people with larger bodies. So as you navigate your own weight loss, just know that it may bring up mixed or unexpected feelings about your own body, or body size in general. And it’s normal to have these conflicted feelings related to GLP-1 use.
Weight-loss expectations
Not everyone loses weight on a GLP-1 at the same rate. And some people may lose little to no weight on the medication. If you’re not losing the weight you expected to lose on a GLP-1, you might feel discouraged. Frustration and disappointment related to not reaching your expected goal can be a very real source of stress.
6 tips to manage stress on GLP-1s
There may be many different sources of stress that take you by surprise when you start a GLP-1. But the good news is there are also many simple but effective strategies you can use to lower stress.
1. Move your body in a way that feels enjoyable
The health benefits of exercise are numerous. Incorporating more movement into your day can also increase the effect of a GLP-1. And any form of movement you can incorporate into your day can help to relieve stress. Options include walking, gardening, swimming, and yoga. But finding a type of movement you enjoy — and want to do on a regular basis — is more important than any specific activity.
In fact, many people who start taking a GLP-1 are experiencing how it changes their relationship to exercise. Since they no longer feel like they have to rely on exercise to burn calories for weight loss, it allows them to explore movement as a source of joy.
If you’re just getting started, keep it easy and simple. Start with a daily walk, or another movement that feels doable and good to you. And if you have any specific concerns about what activities are safe for you, don’t be afraid to reach out to a healthcare professional for some tips on recommended activities.
2. Choose nourishing foods
GLP-1s can affect your appetite, causing you to decrease your overall calorie consumption. So it’s important to choose nutritious foods that allow your body to get the energy it needs to function well. Swapping highly processed foods with nutritious whole-food alternatives can help with fatigue.
3. Make time for self-care
Feeling stressed out can make it hard to think about what you need to help alleviate that feeling. You might even think that taking a GLP-1 counts as “enough” self-care. But we all need dedicated time set aside to activities that help maintain our physical and mental health.
Taking time each day to focus on yourself is a powerful way to reduce stress and feel a sense of fulfillment. Think about what gives you joy — and allow yourself the time to experience that feeling through intentional daily activities.
During a busy day, even spending a few minutes outdoors might lift your mood. Or when you have more time, connect with a friend, revisit an old hobby, or start a new one you’ve been meaning to try. Low-effort activities like listening to music, watching a movie, or taking a drive are also great ways to incorporate self-care into a busy schedule.
4. Prioritize sleep
Restful sleep is important to overall well-being. GLP-1s may even have some positive effects on sleep, especially for people with obstructive sleep apnea. But these effects might take time to become fully apparent. Some simple strategies to help optimize sleep include maintaining a consistent bedtime and taking your medication at the same time of day.
5. Cultivate positive relationships
If taking a GLP-1 is affecting one or more of your relationships in a negative way, that can be a major source of stress in your life. And while it might be hard, it’s often best to address these relationship changes directly. Discuss shared expectations or establish boundaries in existing relationships. And seek new relationships with others who share your experience.
Sharing your GLP-1 journey with others can be an empowering experience. But if you’re worried about others’ reactions, don’t feel compelled to share with everyone. Start with people you trust, and only share when you feel ready.
6. Be kind to yourself
Practicing self-compassion can help to lower stress related to taking a GLP-1. This is especially true if your stress stems from comparing yourself to others, or to any unrealistic expectations you place on yourself.
For some, their body might be changing faster than their mind can keep up. For others, they might get frustrated that their body isn’t changing fast enough. Either way, it’s important to remember to be patient with yourself, and that mistakes and setbacks are expected and part of being human. Kindness to yourself builds resilience that can help you be successful over time.
When should you talk to your doctor about stress from GLP-1s?
There are lots of ways you can choose to manage stress related to taking GLP-1s. But one of the most important things to keep in mind is that you don’t need to do it alone. Your healthcare team can help you navigate the best strategies for stress management. You can ask them about:
Ways to alleviate financial or supply-related barriers to treatment
Any GLP-1 side effects you’re experiencing — and how to best address them
Realistic goals and expectations of the treatment for your medical condition
Lifestyle changes you can make to help the medication have the desired effect
Dietary advice specific to your health goals — and even a referral to a nutritionist
Your healthcare team can work with you to ensure you set and achieve realistic health goals while taking a GLP-1 — and help you lower any stress in the way.
The bottom line
GLP-1s are helping a lot of people, but some also experience increased stress related to taking these medications. The first step in managing the stress is to acknowledge it, and reflect on how it’s affecting you.
There are many useful strategies to help you manage stress from taking a GLP-1, but the best strategies are going to look different for everyone. Some of these are things you can do right away, like getting more movement and ensuring adequate nutrition. Others may take more practice, like incorporating self-care or managing side effects. And a healthcare professional is a great resource for addressing any other causes of stress.
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References
Gelfand, S. T., et al. (2017). Clinical review of how glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist obesity medications decrease sexual desire, and a biopsychosocial model for why we don’t ‘see’ it. Obesity Pillars.
Hachula, M., et al. (2023). The impact of various methods of obesity treatment on the quality of life and mental health—A narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Kornelius, E., et al. (2024). The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior in patients with obesity on glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy. Scientific Reports.
Miller, A., et al. (2024). Most GLP-1 medications correlated with a lower likelihood of anxiety and depression diagnoses. Epic Research.
O’Connor, M. A., et al. (2026). Glucagon-like-peptide-1 and mental health: The unexpected outcomes. Nursing Clinics of North America.
Sharafshah, A., et al. (2025). In silico pharmacogenomic assessment of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) agonists and the genetic addiction risk score (GARS) related pathways: Implications for suicidal ideation and substance use disorder. Current Neuropharmacology.
Tomiyama, A. J. (2025). Behavioral medicine in the GLP-1 era. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
