title: Effects of once-weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity.
abstract: The aim of this trial was to investigate the mechanism of action for body weight loss with semaglutide.
  
  
  
  This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover trial investigated the effects of 12 weeks of treatment with once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide, dose-escalated to 1.0 mg, in 30 subjects with obesity. Ad libitum energy intake, ratings of appetite, thirst, nausea and well-being, control of eating, food preference, resting metabolic rate, body weight and body composition were assessed.
  
  
  
  After a standardised breakfast, semaglutide, compared with placebo, led to a lower ad libitum energy intake during lunch (-1255 kJ; P  < .0001) and during the subsequent evening meal ( P  = .0401) and snacks ( P  = .0034), resulting in a 24% reduction in total energy intake across all ad libitum meals throughout the day (-3036 kJ; P  < .0001). Fasting overall appetite suppression scores were improved with semaglutide vs placebo, while nausea ratings were similar. Semaglutide was associated with less hunger and food cravings, better control of eating and a lower preference for high-fat foods. Resting metabolic rate, adjusted for lean body mass, did not differ between treatments. Semaglutide led to a reduction from baseline in mean body weight of 5.0 kg, predominantly from body fat mass.
  
  
  
  After 12 weeks of treatment, ad libitum energy intake was substantially lower with semaglutide vs placebo with a corresponding loss of body weight observed with semaglutide. In addition to reduced energy intake, likely mechanisms for semaglutide-induced weight loss included less appetite and food cravings, better control of eating and lower relative preference for fatty, energy-dense foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7085-9596
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blundell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.affiliation: Novo Nordisk, Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Axelsen
authors.affiliation: Novo Nordisk, Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.affiliation: Novo Nordisk, Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.affiliation: Novo Nordisk, Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Julie B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hjerpsted
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / Q000378:metabolism; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D057566:Self Report; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists; D000099194:Semaglutide
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists; D000099194:Semaglutide; C000593833:GLP1R protein, human
keywords: Body composition; Energy regulation; GLP-1 analogue; Glucagon-like peptide-1; Randomised trial; Semaglutide; Type 2 diabetes; Visual analogue scale