The increasing use of Ozempic for its significant impact on appetite and body weight has brought to light a surprising side effect known as ‘Ozempic meat’.
Users of Ozempic and its counterpart Wegovy have taken to social media and forums to express a sudden aversion to foods they once relished. While some have experienced a complete loss of appetite, others have found certain foods to taste unpleasant or even repugnant.
A common theme among these reports is a newfound distaste for meat, especially fatty or fried types.
Alyssa Fraser, a former food journalist from Minnesota, shared with Live Science that after starting Wegovy, her interest in food waned, and some proteins began to taste “too much like the barnyard the animal came from.” Even her once-beloved wine seemed to take on an unusual “vegetal” flavor.
This has piqued the interest of scientists. A study published in Food Quality and Preference revealed that individuals using GLP-1 medications (which include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound) consumed around 700 fewer calories daily. Their diet also shifted away from processed foods, soda, refined grains, and beef, towards more fruit, leafy greens, and water.
John Blundell, an emeritus professor of psychobiology at the University of Leeds, suggests that these changes may be due to how GLP-1 medications alter the connections between taste, desire, and satiety. He noted, “Liking a food is different from wanting it.”
Essentially, people may still have a liking for certain foods, but their immediate desire to consume them is diminished.
GLP-1 medications simulate a natural hormone that controls blood sugar and appetite, affecting receptors throughout the body, including those in the brain’s reward circuits. This action not only reduces hunger but may also lessen the pleasure derived from eating.
There is also some evidence that these medications might directly impact taste perception.
GLP-1 receptors have been identified in human taste buds, and preliminary studies suggest that individuals taking semaglutide might experience an increased sensitivity to sweet tastes.
For some, these changes make familiar foods seem overpowering or distasteful.
A long-term Wegovy user shared with Live Science that her usual panang curry “just didn’t taste right anymore.” Some have even reported that the scent of cooked meat now makes them feel nauseated.
This phenomenon has been discussed by Reddit users on related subreddits as well. One user remarked, “My wife takes Ozempic. In the first half of the weekly dose’s effect nearly turns her vegetarian. It’s pretty distinctive.”
However, responses to specific foods can vary based on both individual reactions and the particular medication, confirming some study findings while differing from others.
For instance, a now-deleted user mentioned: “I’ve been on Zepbound and I surely eat a lot less, but meat has been one of the few things I want. Sweets have been the game-changer for me. Couldn’t pass a piece of chocolate to save my life. The late-night hunger demons are gone too.”