Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2023

The effect of tirzepatide during weight loss on food intake, appetite, food preference and food craving in people with obesity (97186)

Corby K Martin 1 , Eric Ravussin 1 , Guillermo Sanchez-Delgado 1 , Hiroshi Nishiyama 2 , Jing Li 2 , Shweta Urva 2 , Edward J Pratt 2 , Zvonko Milicevic 2 , Axel Haupt 2 , Tamer Coskun 2 , Samantha Hocking 3
  1. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, USA
  2. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
  3. Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney

Aim: Tirzepatide (TZP) promotes significant, clinically meaningful weight loss. In a randomized blinded clinical trial in people with obesity undergoing caloric restriction, we investigated the effect of TZP vs Placebo (PBO) on food intake during ad libitum lunch and dinner, appetite, food preference and craving.

Method: In this 18wk phase 1 study, 55 people with obesity, with baseline body weight 102.8 kg were randomized (1:1) to TZP 15 mg/PBO. Food intake was measured during ad libitum lunch (664 kcal, PBO; 682 kcal, TZP) and dinner (1178 kcal, PBO; 1190 kcal, TZP) at baseline and after 18wk of treatment. We measured appetite during fasting and standardized mixed meal tolerance test (sMMTT) with visual analogue scale (VAS) and retrospective VAS (average ratings over the previous week). Food cravings and preferences were measured with the Food Craving Inventory (FCI) and Food Preference Questionnaire (FPQ) at baseline, 8wk and 18wk.

Results: At 18wk, mean body-weight loss was 16.7 kg with TZP and 8.3 kg with PBO (p<0.001). TZP significantly decreased food intake from baseline during lunch (-285±42 kcal) and dinner (-631±58 kcal) compared to PBO (6042, and -116±58 kcal, respectively). TZP significantly lowered appetite at fasting and at each time point during the sMMTT, resulting in decreased hunger and prospective food consumption and increased fullness. Based on retrospective VAS, appetite changes started at 1wk. TZP significantly decreased food preference scores in 10/12 FPQ metrics at 8wk and 18wk compared to PBO. TZP significantly decreased the overall FCI score and the sweets, carbohydrates and starches, and fast-food fats sub scores, but not the high fat and fruit and vegetable sub scores, at 8wk and 18wk, compared to PBO.

Conclusion: TZP decreased food intake, appetite, food craving and preference. TZP appears to reduce body weight via reductions in food intake and the drive to eat.