- A new study found that people taking semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) maintained a significantly lower calorie intake after 60 weeks on the medication.
- Participants taking semaglutide consistently consumed 24% to 30% fewer calories than those receiving a placebo throughout the study.
- The findings suggest semaglutide may continue supporting weight loss even after differences in hunger and food cravings begin to fade.
People taking semaglutide for weight loss maintained a significantly lower calorie intake after 60 weeks on the medication, according to a new study
The findings, published July 16 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, give more insight into how GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic (both brand names for semaglutide) can support both initial weight loss and long-term weight maintenance
How semaglutide’s effects on calorie intake were studied
The 60-week trial enrolled 120 adults with overweight or obesity
Participants received either a once-weekly 2.4-milligram dose of semaglutide or a placebo, along with regular lifestyle counseling focused on healthy eating and physical activity
At the beginning of the study and again at weeks 20, 40, and 60, participants ate standardized meals and were instructed to eat until they felt comfortably full, while researchers measured the number of calories they consumed
Compared with those given a placebo, participants taking semaglutide consistently consumed 24% to 30% fewer calories at each follow-up assessment through week 60
The sustained reduction in calorie intake was accompanied by greater weight loss
Participants taking semaglutide lost an average of 15.1% of their initial body weight after 60 weeks, compared with 3.4% among those taking a placebo
“These findings are consistent with what I see in my own clinical practice when prescribing semaglutide,” said Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA
Ali was not involved in the study
“In many cases, the benefits of the medication can persist over time, although some patients may become slightly less sensitive to its effects as their bodies adjust,” he told Healthline
How semaglutide affected hunger, fullness, and food noise
The study also examined participants’ feelings of hunger, fullness, and food preoccupation (food noise)
The researchers found that during the first 20 weeks, people using semaglutide reported less hunger, fewer food-related thoughts, and greater appetite control
However, by weeks 40 and 60, the differences between those using semaglutide and the placebo group on these measures were no longer statistically significant
Despite this, participants taking semaglutide continued to consume significantly fewer calories than those taking a placebo throughout the study
GLP-1 medications help control your appetite by mimicking a natural gut hormone. They also slow stomach emptying, helping you feel full longer
These medications can also help quiet food noise and reduce cravings
Jonathan Jennings, MD, board certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Healthline that obesity is an excessive amount of body fat around the internal organs that makes the body less responsive to the hormone insulin, and this resistance results in the production of more insulin
“Excessive amounts of the hormone insulin in the body stimulate the appetite. Semaglutide decreases the amount of insulin in the body, which also decreases the appetite,” he said
GLP-1s work best alongside healthy lifestyle changes
Although semaglutide helped participants maintain a lower calorie intake, experts said the medication should still be viewed as one part of a broader long-term weight management strategy
“I always emphasize that the most successful outcomes happen when patients use the medication as a tool and not a stand-alone solution. Long-term results are typically driven by a combination of the medication’s effects and meaningful, sustainable changes in diet and lifestyle,” said Ali
Jennings agreed and added that strategy planning with a nutritionist and a healthcare professional is the most effective way to make the modifications needed to reduce the risk of rebound weight gain after stopping the medication
“Overall, these findings highlight the value of continued treatment for many patients. For individuals who tolerate the medication well, staying on it longer term can play an important role in maintaining weight loss and supporting ongoing metabolic health,” Ali said
