A new study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston has found that the popular weekly injection semaglutide, commonly known as Ozempic and Wegovy, can change taste sensitivity, taste perception, and brain responses to sweet tastes in women with obesity. The study, conducted at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, gave 30 obese women 1 milligram of semaglutide or a placebo for 16 weeks. The researchers found that semaglutide reduced appetite and lowered the desire for energy-dense, salty, and spicy foods.
The study measured taste sensitivity using strips containing different concentrations of four basic tastes and used MRI to assess brain responses to sweet tastes before and after a meal. A tongue biopsy was also conducted to analyze genes associated with taste. Participants who took semaglutide saw improved taste sensitivity and changes in taste perception and brain activity in response to sweet tastes. However, there have been reports of dysgeusia, a condition that alters the taste of foods, in more than 0.4% of Ozempic users, with complaints of changes in taste appearing on social media platforms like TikTok.
Despite the promising results of the study, lead researcher Mojca Jensterle Sever noted some limitations in the research. She emphasized that the study assessed only a specific taste in a controlled environment, which may not reflect everyday experiences. Taste perception can also vary significantly from person to person, limiting the generalizability of the results. Nonetheless, Jensterle Sever remains hopeful that these findings could contribute to understanding and potentially adjusting taste preferences in people with obesity, providing new insights into how weight loss medications affect taste perception.
The study’s findings shed light on how semaglutide, an increasingly popular medication for diabetes and weight loss, impacts taste sensitivity and perception in obese women. By reducing appetite and altering food preferences, semaglutide may offer new possibilities for weight management and maintenance. Understanding these changes in taste perception could help researchers develop more effective strategies for managing obesity and improving the overall health of individuals struggling with weight issues.
The implications of the study suggest that semaglutide’s effects on taste sensitivity could play a significant role in its mechanism of action for weight loss. By influencing the brain’s response to sweet tastes and altering preferences for energy-dense foods, semaglutide may help individuals make healthier food choices and maintain weight loss in the long term. While further research is needed to fully understand the impact of semaglutide on taste perception, these initial findings provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of this medication for individuals with obesity.
As more research is conducted on semaglutide and its effects on taste perception and weight loss, healthcare providers may be better equipped to support individuals struggling with obesity. By addressing the underlying factors that contribute to weight gain and obesity, such as taste preferences and food cravings, medical professionals can offer more personalized and effective treatment approaches. The study’s results underscore the importance of considering individual differences in taste perception when developing interventions for weight management and highlight the potential of semaglutide as a promising option for individuals seeking to achieve sustainable weight loss.
