Many Patients on Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro Report Altered Taste Perceptions

Recent findings presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Vienna reveal that approximately 20% of individuals using medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro experience heightened sensitivity to certain flavors. Specifically, a significant portion of participants reported that their food tastes saltier or sweeter than it did before starting these therapies.

This observation stems from a real-world study involving 411 individuals with overweight or obesity, all of whom had been on these medications for at least three months, with median treatment durations of around 40 to 47 weeks. The study aimed to assess changes in taste perception, appetite, and cravings, as well as their potential relation to weight loss outcomes.

The research found that about one in five participants felt that their food currently tastes sweeter, while a similar percentage perceived it as saltier. Interestingly, perceptions of bitterness and sourness did not change significantly. Moreover, people taking Wegovy reported saltier tastes more frequently compared to those on Ozempic or Mounjaro.

Participants also reported reduced hunger and increased feelings of fullness, with many experiencing decreased food cravings. Those who noticed sweeter or saltier tastes were more likely to experience greater satiety and appetite suppression, suggesting a possible connection between taste perception changes and appetite regulation.

The underlying mechanism may involve the drugs acting not only on the gut and brain areas controlling hunger but also on taste bud cells and central taste-processing regions. These effects could lead to altered flavor perception, which might contribute to better appetite control and weight management.

However, the study emphasizes that taste perception changes are just one piece of the complex process of weight loss. No direct link was found between taste changes and BMI reduction, which is influenced by many factors including metabolism and activity levels.

While the findings are promising, researchers caution that the data are self-reported and may not be representative of all patients. Nonetheless, monitoring taste changes could serve as an additional tool for clinicians to evaluate treatment response and tailor dietary advice more effectively.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-people-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro-food.html