Editorial
Taste changes and GLP-1 medication
Two studies from 2025 looked at what happens to the sense of taste in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro). This is what they found, with the numbers as published.
1. The survey: one in five say food tastes sweeter or saltier
A cross-sectional survey presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Vienna (15 to 19 September 2025) asked 411 adults with overweight or obesity who were taking one of the three medications about appetite and taste. 148 were on Ozempic, 217 on Wegovy and 46 on Mounjaro; 69.6% were women.
- 21.3% said food tasted sweeter than before.
- 22.6% said food tasted saltier than before.
- Most respondents reported no change in bitterness or sourness, although some reported stronger or weaker tastes.
- 58.4% reported decreased appetite and 63.5% reported feeling full sooner.
This was a cross-sectional survey by Kapan and colleagues, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2025. The answers were self-reported, with no untreated control group.
2. The lab test: all five basic tastes measured lower
Khan and Doty at the University of Pennsylvania Smell and Taste Center gave a 53-item taste test (WETT) and a 40-item smell test (UPSIT) to 46 people taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist and 46 matched controls.
- Mean taste score 28.61 in the medication group against 40.63 in controls (p < 0.001).
- 85% of the medication group scored worse than their individually matched control.
- All five taste subtests (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) were affected.
- Smell was slightly lower on average but the difference was not significant (p = 0.076).
Small sample, case-control design. The authors state the physiological basis is unknown. The senior author declares a financial interest in the company that makes the tests used.
What these studies can and cannot tell us
The studies asked different questions in different groups of people. One collected reports of taste changes; the other compared test scores between people taking medication and matched controls. Neither design can establish that the medication caused the difference, or explain what an individual will experience.
Neither study tested a flavour enhancer or dietary change as a treatment. If your sense of taste changes, or you struggle to eat or drink enough, discuss it with your clinician.
Sources
- Kapan A et al. Real-world insights into incretin-based therapy: associations between changes in taste perception and appetite regulation in individuals with obesity and overweight: a cross-sectional study. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025;27(9):5008-5018. doi 10.1111/dom.16548. Read the published study.
- Khan R, Doty RL. GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly impair taste function. Physiol Behav 2025;291:114793. doi 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114793. PubMed 39722367.
Methodology: numbers are quoted as published; no pooling, no re-analysis. Last reviewed 2026-09-22.
Straight answers
Does everyone on these medications notice a taste change?+
No. In the survey, about one in five respondents reported sweeter or saltier food. The separate laboratory study compared people taking medication with matched controls; it did not measure changes in those people over time.
Is the change permanent?+
These studies do not establish what happens after treatment stops. Speak to your clinician if a taste change concerns you; do not change prescribed medication based on this page.
Is it the sense of smell or the sense of taste?+
In the laboratory study, taste scores were lower in the medication group than in the control group. The difference in smell scores was not statistically significant.
What if food tastes different to me?+
Tell your clinician about a new or persistent taste change, particularly if it affects how much you can eat or drink. Neither study tested a flavour enhancer or a cooking method as a treatment.