GLP-1s can help users lose weight – but for some, they also erase the joy of food
Some users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy report a diminished enjoyment of food, describing a loss of emotional connection to eating despite successful weight loss. The medications reduce appetite and cravings by affecting hunger signals, but may also dull the pleasure associated with food, leading to a more clinical approach to eating. Experts suggest psychological support could help users navigate these unintended emotional side effects, similar to care provided after bariatric surgery.
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When Joel Brown was a chef in the 2010s in Toronto, tasting a brilliant new dish was like hearing a piece of life-altering music. He’d let out a bewildered laugh, rendered speechless by the revelatory flavours and textures. He reacted that way after he tasted a mortadella sandwich on a cornetto with pistachio remoulade. And another time after eating a spoonful of hazelnut gelato. Then again after a bite of focaccia that was “70 per cent oil and 30 per cent bread.” But in 2024, just a week after Mr. Brown, now 40, began taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, the joy had vanished. Flavours and textures lost their thrill. He struggled to find even a fraction of his past delight at mealtime. “It was like, ‘I need this many calories to survive today,’” he recalls.
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