Recent research reveals that weight loss injections can alter the perception of taste, making food taste saltier or sweeter.
A study involving 411 individuals receiving appetite-suppressing injections like Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Ozempic indicated that approximately 20% of participants experienced heightened sensitivity to sugar and salt.
Lead researcher Professor Othmar Moser from the University of Bayreuth in Germany explained, “These medications not only impact the gut and brain regions that regulate hunger but also influence taste bud cells and brain areas involved in taste and reward processing. Consequently, they can subtly modify the perception of intense flavors such as sweetness or saltiness, potentially influencing appetite.”
The study revealed that 21.3% of individuals on the injections reported a sweeter taste in their food, while 22.6% perceived a saltier taste. However, their perception of bitterness and sourness remained unchanged.
Among the injection groups, Wegovy users were more likely to experience increased saltiness in food, with 26.7% of participants on Wegovy reporting this sensation compared to 16.2% in the Ozempic group and 15.2% in the Mounjaro group.
Professor Moser further stated, “Changes in taste perception can impact the immediate satisfaction or appeal of food, influencing appetite regulation. However, weight loss is influenced by various factors such as metabolism, long-term dietary habits, and physical activity. Therefore, alterations in taste alone may not directly drive weight reduction.”
Similar frequencies of increased sweetness were reported across all groups: 19.4% for Wegovy, 21.6% for Ozempic, and 21.7% for Mounjaro.
The findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna and were published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.
These weight loss medications, which mimic the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 hormone to induce a sense of fullness, were initially developed for diabetes treatment. Wegovy and Mounjaro are now NHS-approved branded forms specifically for weight loss in obese patients, although limited NHS availability results in most UK individuals privately funding these injections.
Separate research suggests that weight loss injections could benefit obese or type 2 diabetic children as young as six, although stomach issues were more common in youngsters using the drugs. Currently, weight loss injections are exclusively prescribed for adults by the NHS.
A review and meta-analysis conducted by US experts on 18 trials involving 1,402 youngsters aged six to 17, revealed that these GLP-1 hormone-mimicking drugs significantly improved glycaemic control and weight in obese children and those with type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, some individuals experienced side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
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