The New Parenting Challenge of GLP-1 Users
As GLP-1 medications (such as semaglutide) become widely used, more parents are taking these drugs for weight management or chronic conditions. However, an overlooked issue is emerging: how do changes in parents' bodies and eating habits affect their children?
Caitlin, a mother in Los Angeles, needs GLP-1 medication for an autoimmune condition, but she worries about sending her daughter the wrong message that "thin equals better." She says: "I don't want to bring diet culture into my home. I don't want to accidentally teach my daughter that being smaller equals being better or more valuable."
Secrecy May Pose Greater Risks
Some popular advice suggests parents on appetite-suppressing medication simply say "for my health." But experts warn that vague statements can be harmful. Children observe parents eating less or skipping meals and may imitate these behaviors, increasing their risk of developing eating disorders.
Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian in Southern California, notes: "Kids are going to make up their own ideas of what's happening if we're not actually addressing it. They're absorbing it, they're seeing it, they're seeing a shrinking body, they're seeing you eat less."
Zoë Bisbing, a body image therapist in New York City, advises making the topic "speakable." If your child asks or finds syringes in the fridge, you can say matter-of-factly: "That's the medicine I'm taking. Do you want to hear why I take it?"
How to Communicate Openly with Children
Experts suggest using simple, neutral language to explain the medication. For example: "I take medicines for lots of different reasons. This one happens to have a weight-loss side effect. Some medicines have weight-gain side effects."
Even if you're using the medication primarily for weight loss, you can take steps to mitigate potential risks to your child's body image. Nikki Naab-Levy, a strength and nutrition coach in Tacoma, Washington, urges parents to avoid demonizing foods or bodies. If your child offers you a bite of their ice cream sandwich, accepting it has a very different impact than saying "Mommy can't have that" and then commenting on your body size.
Emphasize Health Behaviors, Not Scale Numbers
Bisbing recommends that parents on GLP-1s for weight loss still emphasize health-promoting behaviors such as adequate sleep and physical activity, rather than a number on the scale. "I don't want to lie to kids or deny anything, but rather to expand the conversation so there's an 'and' here rather than just 'weight loss equals I feel good.' There's more that I value than just being smaller."
Naab-Levy plans to discuss GLP-1s with her daughter in terms of how health is very individual. "From an inclusivity standpoint, some of us have medical challenges, and in some cases, medication can really improve our quality of life."
Practical Recommendations
- Model eating regularly and enjoying a variety of foods, without eliminating food groups
- Eat meals with your child whenever possible, maintaining normalized portions
- Avoid calorie counting or using food scales in front of children
- Keep diet or weight-loss talk as adult conversation, not in front of kids
- If appetite is very low, discuss dosage adjustments with your doctor
Cruz reminds that when parents have reduced hunger cues, what a "normal" meal looks like can become skewed, affecting how parents respond to their children's appetite. Growing children need plenty of calories and energy, and parents should ensure they don't project their own eating patterns onto their children.
Remember, the key to protecting your child's healthy relationship with food and body image is not hiding the medication, but communicating openly and neutrally while emphasizing the multi-dimensional value of health. The Xiaoshu Health App can sync with Apple Health to track relevant metrics, helping you better manage your own health while modeling positive health behaviors for your children.