GLP-1 drugs strip pleasure from eating, prompting calls for support

5 articles · Updated · The Globe and Mail · Apr 30

Patients in Canada described food joy vanishing on Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, while Texas Tech researcher Emily Dhurandhar said the effect is understudied and needs better measurement.
The drugs curb cravings by reducing dopamine and reward-pathway activity, but some users reported anhedonia, anxiety, digestive distress and social isolation, leading experts to urge therapy and psychosocial support.
A Tulane study of 33,600 GLP-1 users and 33,600 surgery patients found higher risks of some psychiatric disorders among drug users, reinforcing calls to embed mental-health screening in obesity care.

GLP-1s show conflicting mental health data. How can patients treat obesity without risking their well-being?

With GLP-1s altering our brain's reward system, are we trading pleasure for a number on a scale?