Dulaglutide Reduced Binge Eating Symptoms in a Patient with Diabetes and Obesity | Research

The takeaway

A case report describes a patient with binge eating disorder, type 2 diabetes, and obesity who showed reduced binge eating scores, weight, and BMI after 6 weeks of weekly dulaglutide injections with no side effects.

Triple benefit in one drug
Dulaglutide improved binge eating behaviors, blood sugar control, and weight simultaneously in a patient with all three conditions

What the researchers found

A patient with mild binge eating disorder, type 2 diabetes, and obesity was treated with dulaglutide 0.75 mg weekly. At 6-week follow-up, improvements were observed in the Binge Eating Scale (BES) score, BMI, body weight, and BED symptoms. Dulaglutide was well tolerated with no reported adverse drug events.

While dulaglutide was initiated for diabetes management, the concurrent improvement in binge eating behaviors suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may have dual benefits in patients with comorbid BED and metabolic conditions. The case adds to an emerging evidence base for GLP-1 drugs in eating disorders, though the mechanism — whether through appetite suppression, reward pathway modulation, or both — requires further investigation.

Why it matters

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet treatment options are limited and often ineffective. GLP-1 drugs like dulaglutide work on brain pathways that control appetite and reward — the same pathways implicated in binge eating. If GLP-1 drugs prove effective for BED, they could offer a novel treatment approach that addresses both the eating disorder and common metabolic comorbidities like diabetes and obesity simultaneously.

How the study worked

This is a single-patient case report. Baseline measurements included binge eating scale (BES) score, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), BMI, and body weight. Dulaglutide 0.75 mg was administered subcutaneously once weekly. Follow-up assessments at 6 weeks evaluated changes in all baseline parameters and documented any adverse events.

What this study cannot tell us

This is a single case report, the lowest level of clinical evidence. No causal conclusions can be drawn — the improvements could be coincidental, related to placebo effect, or driven by other factors in the patient's life. The 6-week follow-up is very short; long-term BED outcomes are unknown. The low dulaglutide dose (0.75 mg vs up to 4.5 mg) may not represent the optimal dose for BED. The patient had mild BED; results may not generalize to moderate or severe cases.

How to read the evidence

This is a single case report — the weakest form of clinical evidence. While it provides an interesting clinical observation, no conclusions about efficacy can be drawn. It primarily serves to generate hypotheses for future controlled studies.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, this case report reflects the current wave of clinical interest in GLP-1 drugs for eating disorders and compulsive behaviors. Larger clinical trials are underway or planned.

The bigger picture

GLP-1 drugs are increasingly being recognized for effects on compulsive and reward-driven behaviors beyond appetite — including reduced alcohol consumption, decreased gambling urges, and now potentially reduced binge eating. This case adds to a growing narrative that GLP-1 receptor agonists may fundamentally alter the brain's reward system, which could make them valuable for a range of behavioral conditions beyond metabolic disease. The overlapping biology of BED and addiction is driving this research forward.

Questions still open

Would higher doses of dulaglutide or more potent GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide be more effective for moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder?
Is the reduction in binge eating driven by appetite suppression, reward pathway changes, or both?
Could GLP-1 drugs eventually receive FDA approval specifically for binge eating disorder?

Common questions

What is binge eating disorder and how common is it?

Binge eating disorder (BED) involves recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short time while feeling a loss of control. Unlike bulimia, people with BED don't regularly purge. It's the most common eating disorder in the US, affecting about 2-3% of the population. It often co-occurs with obesity and diabetes, making the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs especially relevant.

How might GLP-1 drugs reduce binge eating?

GLP-1 receptor agonists act on receptors in the brain's appetite and reward centers, reducing hunger signals and potentially dampening the compulsive drive to eat. Since binge eating involves both appetite dysregulation and loss of control over eating behavior, GLP-1 drugs may address both components simultaneously. This is similar to how these drugs appear to reduce alcohol consumption and other reward-driven behaviors.

Read the original research

Dulaglutide use to improve binge eating behaviors in a person with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 82(16), 886-890

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Innocent, Britnee; Elmaoued, Amre A; Cowart, Kevin; White, Raechel T. (2025). Dulaglutide use to improve binge eating behaviors in a person with type 2 diabetes and obesity.. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 82(16), 886-890. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxaf088