Effects of once-weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial
PubMed 28266779 · doi:10.1111/dom.12932
What was done
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover trial in 30 subjects with obesity investigated the effects of 12 weeks of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (dose-escalated to 1.0 mg) compared with placebo. Outcomes assessed included ad libitum energy intake (lunch, evening meal, and snacks following a standardized breakfast), ratings of appetite, thirst, nausea, and well-being, control of eating, food preference, resting metabolic rate, body weight, and body composition.
What was found
Compared with placebo, semaglutide significantly lowered ad libitum energy intake at lunch (-1255 kJ; P < .0001), the evening meal (P = .0401), and snacks (P = .0034), yielding a 24% reduction in total ad libitum daily energy intake (-3036 kJ; P < .0001). Fasting appetite suppression improved with semaglutide, with reported reductions in hunger and food cravings, better control of eating, and lower preference for high-fat foods, while nausea ratings were similar to placebo. Resting metabolic rate adjusted for lean body mass did not differ between treatments. Semaglutide resulted in a mean weight loss from baseline of 5.0 kg, predominantly from fat mass.
Why it matters
This study provides direct experimental evidence that semaglutide induces weight loss by reducing appetite, cravings, and voluntary caloric intake rather than by increasing resting energy expenditure.
Limits
The sample size was small (30 participants) and evaluated a 12-week duration. The abstract does not report exact numerical values or variance for appetite ratings, body composition changes, or resting metabolic rate, nor does it specify participant age or sex distribution.
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