Semaglutide Changes Japanese Patients' Food Preferences Away from Carbs and Fats | Research

The takeaway

Semaglutide significantly reduced preferences for sweet/non-sweet carbohydrates and non-sweet fats in Japanese T2D patients, particularly for rice, noodles, and high-fat snacks, without changing protein or fiber preferences.

Selective preference shift
Semaglutide reduced cravings for rice, noodles, and fatty snacks while leaving protein and fiber preferences unchanged

What the researchers found

Semaglutide reduced preferences for sweet/non-sweet carbohydrates and non-sweet fats (especially rice, noodles, high-fat snacks) while protein and fiber preferences were unchanged. Non-GLP-1 group showed no preference changes.

Why it matters

Understanding that GLP-1 drugs selectively reduce preferences for unhealthy foods (carbs, fats) while preserving healthy preferences (protein, fiber) has important dietary counseling implications.

How the study worked

Retrospective observational study of 32 obese T2D patients (20 semaglutide, 12 control), assessed with JASSO-DBQ eating behavior questionnaire and JFPQ food preference questionnaire at baseline and 6 months.

What this study cannot tell us

Small (n=32), retrospective, non-randomized. Self-reported food preferences. Cultural specificity (Japanese diet). Short follow-up (6 months).

How to read the evidence

Small retrospective observational study. Interesting finding but limited by design and sample size.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Food preference changes may be a key mechanism of GLP-1 drug weight loss, working through brain reward circuits that govern food choices.

Questions still open

Do these food preference changes persist long-term?
Is the effect on food preferences mediated by brain reward circuit changes?
Do different GLP-1 drugs affect food preferences differently?

Common questions

Does semaglutide change what foods you want?

Yes. This study found patients on semaglutide naturally preferred less rice, noodles, and fatty snacks, while their desire for protein and fiber-rich foods stayed the same.

Is this why people lose weight on GLP-1 drugs?

Partly. Beyond just reducing appetite, semaglutide appears to selectively steer food choices away from high-carb and high-fat options toward healthier foods.

Read the original research

Effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on food preferences in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes and visceral fat accumulation.

Endocrine journal

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Hara, Tomoyuki; Fujishima, Yuya; Kimura, Yu; Fujii, Kohei; Kawachi, Yusuke; Nagao, Hirofumi; Obata, Yoshinari; Fukuda, Shiro; Nagai, Naoko; Nishizawa, Hitoshi; Shimomura, Iichiro. (2026). Effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on food preferences in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes and visceral fat accumulation.. Endocrine journal. https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.EJ25-0402