A new study suggests that popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may not deliver the same results for individuals who engage in emotional eating.

These medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are designed to suppress appetite and reduce food intake. While they tend to help those who overeat due to environmental cues—such as how food looks or smells—they appear to be significantly less effective for people who eat in response to emotions like stress, anxiety, or depression.

Published on September 16 in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare, the research urges healthcare professionals to carefully evaluate a patient’s eating patterns before prescribing GLP-1 drugs or recommending bariatric surgery.

“These drugs are most effective for individuals whose overeating is triggered by external stimuli,” said Dr. Daisuke Yabe, the study’s senior author and a professor of medicine at Kyoto University. “But when emotional eating is the primary driver, the benefits may be limited.”

Medical experts not involved in the study echoed the findings, emphasizing that addressing psychological factors is key to successful, lasting weight loss.

“It’s not just about reducing calories,” said Dr. Mir Ali, bariatric surgeon and medical director at MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center in California. “We need to understand the reasons behind a person’s eating habits.”

Dr. Zhaoping Li, professor of clinical medicine at UCLA, added, “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each patient brings their own history and emotional relationship with food.”

Registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick of the Cleveland Clinic said the research reinforces what many clinicians already observe in practice.

“Though the study sample was small, the message is important,” she said. “Medication should be paired with education and support to help build healthier, long-term habits—especially once treatment ends.”

Study Summary: How Eating Behaviors Impact Weight Loss Outcomes

The study followed 92 adults in Japan diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as they began treatment with GLP-1 medications. Researchers assessed participants at the start of the study, after three months, and again at one year, collecting data on weight, diet, body composition, and various health markers like cholesterol and blood glucose.

Participants were divided into three groups based on their eating behavior:

• Emotional Eating – consuming food in response to negative emotions

• External Eating – eating triggered by visual or sensory food cues

• Restrained Eating – intentionally limiting food intake to lose weight

While participants across all groups lost weight and body fat and experienced improved cholesterol levels, those in the external eating group saw the most notable and sustained improvements. Conversely, individuals in the emotional and restrained eating categories were more likely to revert to prior habits by the end of the study.

“Eating is often driven by more than just hunger,” Dr. Li explained. “For many people, it’s a coping mechanism for emotional discomfort.”

Dr. Ali noted that emotional eating can be subtle and difficult to diagnose, which is why involving mental health professionals in the treatment process can be essential.

“If the underlying problem isn’t hunger, then simply suppressing appetite may not be effective,” he said.

Managing Emotional Eating

Kirkpatrick emphasizes that emotional eating must be addressed by helping individuals build a healthier relationship with food.

“People often turn to food for emotional comfort, but the relief is temporary—especially when the choices are highly processed and low in nutrition,” she said. “That creates a cycle of emotional highs followed by crashes, which can lead to repeated overeating.”

For those affected by external cues, the focus becomes recognizing and managing those triggers.

“Some people go out of their way to get fast food simply because they’re thinking about it,” Kirkpatrick explained. “Others are swayed by just seeing or smelling food. Understanding these patterns is essential for making lasting changes.”

In the case of restrained eating, Kirkpatrick recommends an intuitive eating approach that avoids labeling food as “good” or “bad.”

“Strictly avoiding certain foods can backfire, leading to bingeing and guilt,” she said. “Instead, we aim to find balance—where 80% of the time, the focus is on nutrient-rich foods, and 20% allows for flexibility and enjoyment.”

Obesity in the U.S.: A Growing Concern

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40% of U.S. adults are classified as obese. Prevalence is highest among those aged 40 to 59 and remains consistent between men and women.

Obesity is generally defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a waist circumference above 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women. It significantly increases the risk of various chronic health conditions, including:

• Heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Fatty liver disease

• Gallbladder problems

• Sleep apnea

To help manage obesity and type 2 diabetes, doctors often prescribe GLP-1-based medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), as well as Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide). These drugs are typically used alongside lifestyle interventions such as diet changes, increased physical activity, and better sleep habits.

Kirkpatrick noted that many patients report a welcome break from constant food-related thoughts while taking these medications.

“Some people say they finally feel free from the mental noise around eating,” she said. “But they worry about what will happen when the medication stops—will their old habits return?”

The Bottom Line

While Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar weight loss drugs can be highly effective tools, they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution—particularly for individuals whose eating is emotionally driven. Experts agree that understanding and addressing the root causes of eating behaviors is essential for long-term success.

The most effective approach combines medication with mental health support, behavior modification, and sustainable lifestyle changes. Helping people build a healthier, more intuitive relationship with food can make a significant difference—during treatment and beyond.