Nutrition & Diet

Why Ozempic Works Better for Some People Based on How They Eat

A year-long Japanese study of 92 people with type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic work significantly better for people who overeat in response to food cues — sight and smell — compared to those who eat emotionally to cope with stress or sadness. Researchers tracked weight, body composition, blood sugar, and cholesterol over 12 months. External eaters saw greater long-term weight loss and blood sugar improvements, while emotional eaters responded less consistently. The findings suggest that assessing eating behavior patterns before starting GLP-1 therapy could help predict who benefits most, and may point toward the need for complementary psychological support for emotional eaters on these medications.