GLP-1s Won’t Fix These 2 Big Eating Habit Problems

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Read the Transcript:

GLP-1s Won’t Fix These 2 Big Eating Habit Problems

Hey there, welcome back to the Eating Habits for Life podcast! I’m your host, Kate Johnston, and today we’re diving into a topic I’ve been asked about given my role now as an Eating Habits and Weight Loss Coach and my background as a Physician Assistant.

It’s a topic that’s especially relevant given the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. These drugs are changing the conversation around weight loss, providing another pathway for people to eat less and lose weight.

But here’s the big question: Are they actually fixing the root of the problem?

The truth is, GLP-1s won’t fix 2 big eating habit problems that are extremely similar, but still different and that’s emotional eating and mindless eating. And if either of those eating habits is something you struggle with, that’s a problem. Because if you don’t address the habit, it’s going to stick around—whether you’re on a weight loss medication or not.

So today, we’re going to get into:

• Why GLP-1s don’t solve emotional or mindless eating
• The science behind these habits and how your brain gets stuck in these cycles
• What actually works to rewire those habits so that food isn’t your go-to coping mechanism or automatic response

If you’ve ever struggled with stress eating, boredom eating, or eating on autopilot without even realizing it, this episode is for you. Or, you’ve been curious about GLP-1s or are even taking one currently, this episode will be enlightening.

Let’s get started.

Why GLP-1s Don’t Fix Emotional or Mindless Eating

First, let’s break down how these medications actually work.

GLP-1s mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which does three main things:

1. It slows gastric emptying – meaning food stays in your stomach longer, so you feel full faster and for a longer time.
2. It reduces appetite and cravings – so you naturally eat less without having to rely on willpower.
3. It helps regulate blood sugar – which can prevent energy crashes that make you feel hungry.

For a lot of people, this means they feel way less hungry and don’t experience the same level of cravings.

Sounds like a dream, right? So why isn’t it enough?

Because emotional eating and mindless eating aren’t about hunger. They’re about habits and automatic behaviors.

Think about it. When you reach for food after a stressful day at work, are you actually hungry? Probably not. You’re using food for relief.

And what about when you finish an entire bag of chips while watching TV without even realizing it? That’s not hunger either—that’s mindless eating. Your brain has simply associated snacking with another activity, and you eat automatically without paying attention to it.

GLP-1s don’t change these patterns. They might suppress your appetite, but the urge to eat for comfort or out of habit will still be there.

And this is exactly why so many people regain weight once they stop taking the medication—because the underlying habits weren’t addressed.

If you want long-term success, you have to tackle emotional eating and mindless eating at their root.

The Science Behind Emotional Eating & Mindless Eating

Let’s look at three key ways these habits develop in the brain.

1. The Dopamine Reward System

When you eat something comforting—especially sugar, fat, or processed carbs—your brain releases dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter.

This creates a reward loop:

• You feel stressed or bored → You eat something delicious → You feel better (temporarily).

Over time, your brain learns that food = emotional relief or a way to pass time.

GLP-1s don’t change this brain wiring. They may reduce overall cravings, but the emotional and habitual connection to food remains intact.

2. Habit Loops and Automatic Eating

Both emotional eating and mindless eating often happen on autopilot. You don’t even think about it—it just happens.

Your brain has learned:

• “When I feel sad, I eat ice cream.”
• “When I watch TV, I snack on chips.”
• “When I have a stressful meeting, I reach for chocolate.”

The more you repeat these behaviors, the stronger the habit loop becomes. GLP-1s may reduce your overall food intake, but they don’t erase these deeply ingrained patterns.

What Actually Works for Emotional Eating & Mindless Eating?

If medication isn’t the full solution, what is? How do you actually break free from emotional and mindless eating?

#1 Build Awareness

Start recognizing when you reach for food emotionally or out of habit.

• Is it stress?
• Is it boredom?
• Is it simply because food is in front of you?

A simple trick: Pause before you eat and ask, “Am I physically hungry?” If the answer is no, dig deeper into what’s really going on.

#2 Find New Coping Strategies

The best solution to emotional eating is a skill I teach my clients. It’s learning how to recognize, view, and process emotions, so it breaks the habit of your brain thinking it needs to use food as a solution.

There are other actions that can help as a supplement to this and these include finding new coping strategies for specific emotions.

Instead of eating, try:

• For stress relief: Deep breathing, a quick walk, or stretching.
• For boredom: A hobby, calling a friend, or journaling.
• For automatic snacking: Creating a protocol (a better term for a “rule”) to eat only at the table, without screens.

#3 Rewire the Habit Loop as Often as You Can

If your habit is stress → eat → relief, shift it to stress → deep breathing → relief.

Every time you break the cycle, you weaken the habit loop.

#4 Practice Mindful Eating

• Eat without distractions (no TV, no phone).
• Check in with your hunger level before eating.
• Slow down to taste and enjoy your food.

These small changes make a huge difference.

Final Thoughts on Why GLP-1s Won’t Fix Emotional or Mindless Eating

GLP-1s are powerful tools, but they don’t fix emotional or mindless eating. And if you don’t tackle those habits, the struggle with food will always be there—medication or not.

The good news? You can rewire these habits. Small, consistent shifts create lasting change.

If this resonates with you, and you want help breaking free from emotional and mindless eating so you feel in control of your habits for life (and not at the mercy of a medication that can cause side effects or even become inaccessible to you at some point), book a free consultation with me. Let’s create a plan that actually works for you.

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This isn’t just a bonus—it’s your guarantee ahead of time that when you finish coaching, you’ll feel super confident in maintaining your results.

You’ll have the tools, the mindset, and the plan to keep going without second-guessing yourself. No more fear of slipping back, no more wondering “Can I really do this on my own?” because you’ll already know you can. You’ll definitely see the evidence during that transition period.

This is your chance to set yourself up for long-term success, but only if you take action now. The most popular time slots for career women go the quickest, so book your free consultation today and let’s make this the moment everything changes for you.