Scientists discover why Ozempic works better for some people
Science News
from research organizations
Scientists discover why Ozempic works better for some people
Ozempic-like drugs may work far better for “see-food” eaters than emotional eaters, according to new research.
Date:
May 7, 2026
Source:
Frontiers
Summary:
Some people taking Ozempic-like diabetes drugs may be getting dramatically better results for a surprising reason: why they overeat in the first place. A year-long study in Japan found that people who tend to eat because tempting food looks or smells irresistible were much more likely to lose weight and improve blood sugar levels on GLP-1 medications. But people who eat mainly in response to stress, sadness, or emotional struggles didn’t see the same long-term benefits.
Share:
FULL STORY
Scientists found that Ozempic-like drugs may work best for people who overeat because tempting food catches their attention, rather than for emotional eaters. Credit: Shutterstock
GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have transformed treatment for many people with type 2 diabetes by helping lower blood sugar and support weight loss. But researchers are finding that these medications do not work equally well for everyone. A new study from Japan suggests that a person's eating habits and the reasons behind overeating may play a major role in how successful these drugs are over time.
Scientists followed 92 people with diabetes during their first year of treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists. The results showed that people who tended to overeat because food looked or smelled appealing were more likely to see long term benefits from the drugs. In contrast, people who ate mainly in response to stress or emotions were less likely to respond as well.
"Pre-treatment assessment of eating behavior patterns may help predict who will benefit most from GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy," said Prof Daisuke Yabe of Kyoto University, senior author of the article in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare. "GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for individuals who experience weight gain or elevated blood glucose levels due to overeating triggered by external stimuli. However, their effectiveness is less expected in cases where emotional eating is the primary cause."
How GLP-1 Drugs Affect Appetite and Weight
GLP-1 receptor agonists lower blood sugar in several ways, including increasing insulin release. They also help many people lose weight by reducing appetite and changing eating behavior. Still, some patients lose significant weight while others see only modest results.
To better understand why, researchers examined how participants related to food and whether different eating patterns influenced treatment outcomes.
The study included 92 people with type 2 diabetes in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, who had just started GLP-1 therapy. Researchers monitored them over 12 months. At the start of treatment, after three months, and again after one year, the team recorded body weight, body composition, dietary habits, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, and other health markers. Participants also completed questionnaires about their eating behaviors.
Emotional Eating vs. External Eating
The researchers focused on three eating patterns commonly linked to weight gain.
The first was emotional eating, in which people eat to cope with negative feelings instead of physical hunger. The second was external eating, where people eat because food looks or smells appealing rather than because they are hungry. The third was restrained eating, which involves consciously limiting food intake to lose weight. While restrained eating can support weight loss when balanced, extreme restriction can sometimes contribute to unhealthy eating behaviors.
Overall, participants experienced significant reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, and cholesterol levels during the study. Muscle mass remained stable. Blood sugar levels also improved, although the changes were not considered statistically significant.
Why Emotional Eaters Saw Fewer Benefits
The results became more interesting when researchers compared different eating patterns.
After three months of treatment, participants reported fewer emotional and external eating behaviors and more restrained eating behaviors. However, by the 12 month mark, emotional eating and restrained eating had largely returned to their original levels.
"One possible explanation is that emotional eating is more strongly influenced by psychological factors which may not be directly addressed by GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy," said Dr. Takehiro Kato of Gifu University, second author of the article. "Individuals with prominent emotional eating tendencies may require additional behavioral or psychological support."
Researchers did not find a connection between emotional or restrained eating scores at the start of treatment and final treatment outcomes after one year. However, external eating showed a different pattern. R