The Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Chemosensory Function and Ingestive Behavior

The Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Sensory Systems and Ingestive Behavior

The goal of this study is to explore whether of GLP-1 receptor agonist use is associated with differences in taste, smell, food preferences, appetite, food cravings, and responses to food cues in adults. The study includes adults who are not currently taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist but may be eligible to use one, and adults who are already taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist as part of their regular medical care for approximately 1 month or approximately 6 months.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Are taste and smell function different among adults who are not taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist and adults who have been taking one for different lengths of time? Are food preferences, appetite, food cravings, food reward, attention to food cues, and salivary responses to food cues different among these groups? Researchers will compare adults not currently taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist with adults taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist for approximately 1 month or approximately 6 months. The research team will not prescribe, assign, or provide GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.

People in the study will attend two in-person study visits, complete taste and smell tests, complete food preference and computer-based tasks, and provide saliva samples during a food cue task. Questionnaires about appetite, cravings, food cues, and eating behavior will be completed at home over approximately 2 weeks.

This cross-sectional study examines associations between GLP-1 receptor agonist use, chemosensory function, and ingestive behavior in adults. People enrolled in the study are classified into groups based on GLP-1 receptor agonist use status and duration of use: adults who are not currently taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist but may be eligible to use one, adults taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist for approximately 1 month, and adults taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist for approximately 6 months.

GLP-1 receptor agonist use is not assigned by the research team. People who are taking these medications are using them as part of their regular medical care. The study team does not prescribe, administer, or change GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment.

Study procedures include assessments of taste and smell function, food preferences, food reward, appetite, food cravings, food cue responsivity, attentional responses to food cues, and salivary responses to a food cue. Outcomes will be compared across groups to explore whether GLP-1 receptor agonist use and duration of use are associated with differences in chemosensory function and ingestive behavior.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18 to 65 years.
• Any sex or gender.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) >30 kg/m².
• Stable medication use, excluding weight management medications other than GLP-1 receptor agonist use as part of regular medical care.
• Eligible to take GLP-1 receptor agonists but not yet started treatment, or currently taking GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management for approximately 1 month (±0.5 months) or approximately 6 months (±0.5 months).
• No known sensitivity or allergy to study solutions or foods, including sweet solutions, salty solutions, sour solutions, bitter solutions, fatty stimuli, common food flavors used in testing, milk, and fruit-flavored beverages.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 18 years or older than 65 years.
• Previous bariatric surgery or planned bariatric surgery within the next year.
• Sensitivity or allergy to study foods, taste solutions, odor stimuli, or food-related test materials.