Weight loss injections have been found to alter the perception of taste, making food taste saltier or sweeter, according to a recent study. Researchers studied 411 individuals receiving appetite-suppressing injections such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Ozempic, and discovered that approximately one in five participants reported increased sensitivity to sugar and salt.
Lead researcher Professor Othmar Moser from the University of Bayreuth in Germany explained that these medications not only influence the gut and brain regions responsible for controlling hunger but also impact taste bud cells and brain areas involved in taste and reward processing. This dual action can subtly modify how intense flavors like sweetness or saltiness are perceived, potentially affecting appetite regulation.
The study revealed that 21.3% of participants felt their food tasted sweeter, while 22.6% perceived it as saltier after receiving the injections. However, their perception of bitterness and sourness remained unchanged. Among the injections, Wegovy was most associated with making food taste saltier, with 26.7% of users reporting this effect compared to 16.2% in the Ozempic group and 15.2% in the Mounjaro group.
Professor Moser emphasized that changes in taste could influence the immediate satisfaction and appeal of food, impacting appetite control. However, he noted that weight loss depends on various factors beyond taste alterations, such as metabolism, long-term dietary habits, and physical activity. Therefore, changes in taste alone might not directly lead to significant reductions in body weight.
The study findings were presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna and published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Weight loss drugs that mimic the glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) hormone, known for inducing a feeling of fullness, were originally developed for diabetes treatment. Brands like Wegovy and Mounjaro are now approved by the NHS specifically for weight loss in obese patients, although limited NHS availability means that most users in the UK are self-funding their injections.
Separate research indicated the potential effectiveness of weight loss injections in obese children as young as six with type 2 diabetes, although stomach issues were more prevalent among young users of these medications. Currently, weight loss injections are solely prescribed for adults on the NHS.
In the US, experts conducted a review and meta-analysis involving 18 trials with 1,402 young individuals aged six to 17, assessing the impact of GLP-1 hormone-mimicking drugs on weight and glycaemic control. The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, demonstrated significant improvements in weight management and glycaemic control for obese children and those with type 2 diabetes. However, some users experienced side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.