Short- and long-term effects of semaglutide 2.4 mg on energy intake, appetite, and food reward: a 60-week, double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Tronieri JS, Allison KC, DeRouen K, Amaro A, Collins KG, Roy A, Watts S, Ananna T, Wadden TA

The American journal of clinical nutrition20 Jun 2026

PMID42323166PMCIDPMC13494093DOI10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101403PepBankPUB-42323166

Read at source PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced ad libitum energy intake from baseline by 291.9 kcal more than placebo at week 20.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, people on semaglutide ate fewer calories at a test lunch than people on placebo at week 20.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseAd libitum energy intake change at week 20
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Energy intake difference
−291.9 kcal
week 20
Source sentences
Summary
The semaglutide group had significantly larger reductions from baseline in ad libitum energy intake relative to placebo at weeks 20, 40, and 60, consuming a mean ± standard error of 291.9 ± 64.4, 240.2 ± 87.8, and 269.5 ± 83.6 kcal less, respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316601
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced ad libitum energy intake from baseline by 240.2 kcal more than placebo at week 40.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, people on semaglutide ate fewer calories at a test lunch than people on placebo at week 40.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseAd libitum energy intake change at week 40
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Energy intake difference
−240.2 kcal
week 40
Source sentences
Summary
The semaglutide group had significantly larger reductions from baseline in ad libitum energy intake relative to placebo at weeks 20, 40, and 60, consuming a mean ± standard error of 291.9 ± 64.4, 240.2 ± 87.8, and 269.5 ± 83.6 kcal less, respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316602
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced ad libitum energy intake from baseline by 269.5 kcal more than placebo at week 60.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, people on semaglutide ate fewer calories at a test lunch than people on placebo at week 60.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseAd libitum energy intake change at week 60
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Energy intake difference
−269.5 kcal
week 60
Source sentences
Summary
The semaglutide group had significantly larger reductions from baseline in ad libitum energy intake relative to placebo at weeks 20, 40, and 60, consuming a mean ± standard error of 291.9 ± 64.4, 240.2 ± 87.8, and 269.5 ± 83.6 kcal less, respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316603
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
At week 20, semaglutide-treated adults had greater increases from baseline in appetite suppression after a standardized breakfast than placebo (MD = 2197 ± 823).
In plain wordsAt week 20, adults on semaglutide felt less hungry after breakfast than adults on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAppetite suppression after standardized breakfast at week 20
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
2197 NA
appetite suppression week 20
Source sentences
Summary
At week 20, semaglutide-treated participants had significantly greater increases from baseline in appetite suppression after the standardized breakfast [mean difference (MD) = 2197 ± 823] and greater reductions in past-week hunger (MD = -17.4 ± 4.8) and food preoccupation (MD = -14.9 ± 4.5).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316604
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
At week 20, semaglutide-treated adults had greater reductions in past-week hunger than placebo (MD = -17.4 ± 4.8).
In plain wordsAt week 20, adults on semaglutide reported less hunger over the past week than adults on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreasePast-week hunger at week 20
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−17.4 NA
past-week hunger week 20
Source sentences
Summary
At week 20, semaglutide-treated participants had significantly greater increases from baseline in appetite suppression after the standardized breakfast [mean difference (MD) = 2197 ± 823] and greater reductions in past-week hunger (MD = -17.4 ± 4.8) and food preoccupation (MD = -14.9 ± 4.5).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316605
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
At week 20, semaglutide-treated adults had greater reductions in food preoccupation than placebo (MD = -14.9 ± 4.5).
In plain wordsAt week 20, adults on semaglutide thought about food less than adults on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseFood preoccupation at week 20
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−14.9 NA
food preoccupation week 20
Source sentences
Summary
At week 20, semaglutide-treated participants had significantly greater increases from baseline in appetite suppression after the standardized breakfast [mean difference (MD) = 2197 ± 823] and greater reductions in past-week hunger (MD = -17.4 ± 4.8) and food preoccupation (MD = -14.9 ± 4.5).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316606
07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
The semaglutide and placebo groups did not differ significantly in appetite outcomes at weeks 40 or 60.
In plain wordsBy weeks 40 and 60, appetite ratings were not significantly different between semaglutide and placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeAppetite outcomes at weeks 40 and 60
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
However, the groups did not differ significantly in appetite outcomes at weeks 40 or 60.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316607
08HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
Semaglutide produced a greater reduction than placebo in responsiveness to the rewarding value of food at week 20 (MD = -0.4 ± 0.2).
In plain wordsAt week 20, adults on semaglutide were less drawn to the rewarding side of food than adults on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseResponsiveness to food reward at week 20
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−0.4 NA
food reward week 20
Source sentences
Summary
The semaglutide group had greater reductions in responsiveness to the rewarding value of food at weeks 20 and 40 (MD = -0.4 ± 0.2 and -0.6 ± 0.2, respectively).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316608
09HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
Semaglutide produced a greater reduction than placebo in responsiveness to the rewarding value of food at week 40 (MD = -0.6 ± 0.2).
In plain wordsAt week 40, adults on semaglutide were less drawn to the rewarding side of food than adults on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseResponsiveness to food reward at week 40
Study
n = 120
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg · 60 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−0.6 NA
food reward week 40
Source sentences
Summary
The semaglutide group had greater reductions in responsiveness to the rewarding value of food at weeks 20 and 40 (MD = -0.4 ± 0.2 and -0.6 ± 0.2, respectively).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This 60-wk, double-blind trial randomly assigned 120 adults with overweight/obesity in a 3:2 ratio to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Report a problemFND-4232316609

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 completed · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 4Results postedNCT05548647

Semaglutide Treatment, Appetite, and Eating Behavior: Long-term Effects

University of Pennsylvanian = 12026 Jul 2022 to 12 May 2025

Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 3 Aug 2026

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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