Can Semaglutide Be Used for Binge Eating and Appetitive Behavior?
Can Semaglutide Be Used for Binge Eating and Appetitive Behavior?
— By Dawn Sweet, Ph.D.
Preliminary results for using semaglutide for binge eating are promising.
Binge eating is characterized by compulsive and chronic overeating.1 Acknowledged as a formal diagnosis in 2013, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is estimated to affect approximately 1.25 percent of women and 0.42 percent of men.2
Lisdexamfetamine is currently the only FDA-approved medication for BED, though with the robust success of anti-obesity medications with the active ingredient semaglutide (GLP-1 RA), research is now exploring whether semaglutide can be used to treat BED.3 Though the research is in a nascent phase, preliminary results for semaglutide for binge eating are promising.
Semaglutide for Binge Eating Disorder
A retrospective chart review study was conducted to investigate semaglutide and other anti-obesity medications in patients attending an obesity medicine and bariatric clinic.3 Of the 98 charts reviewed, 48 participants were identified to be included in a study following the completion of the Binge Eating Scale (BES).4
Following the chart review and the BES, patients were put into three groups: semaglutide only (n = 19); semaglutide + another anti-obesity medication (e.g., topiramate or lisdexamfetamine) (n = 13); or an alternative anti-obesity medication but not semaglutide (n = 16). Patients taking any other type of GLP-1 were not eligible for this study.
Chart review data collected included demographics, medical history, medication doses and start dates, weight loss at 30-, 90-, and 180-days post-treatment, starting and ending BMI, and BES scores and responses.
Researchers were interested in the impact of semaglutide on moderate to severe BED. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to identify group differences, with mean change in BE scores as the dependent variable and gender, the initial BES, and the days between baseline and follow up as the covariates.
A significant treatment effect was observed between groups. One finding of note is that the BES scores for the semaglutide only group decreased by 14 points, compared to a 12.9 decrease in the semaglutide + other anti-obesity medication group, and a 5.9 decrease in the alternative anti-obesity medications group. Results showed improvements in patients taking semaglutide.
Although the research on the use of semaglutide for BED is in its early stages, the results are promising. The findings reported here do support previous research that found the effect of semaglutide on central satiety signal may play a part in the reduction of binge eating.5 The authors note that more research is needed to fully explore the reduction of binge eating symptoms relative to the central nervous system circuits and that future work should explore optimum dosing and treatment duration.
Implications for Obesity Clinical Practice
The results for using semaglutide for binge eating disorder are promising. BED is a recognized psychiatric condition, so health care providers should partner with colleagues/mental health providers to provide treatment options for the whole patient, which may include anti-obesity medication like semaglutide coupled with therapy.
In addition to pharmacological and therapy interventions, health care providers should consider working collaboratively with patients to implement sustainable lifestyle changes can help them achieve long-term, sustainable weight loss. Part of this treatment program could include Low Calorie (LCD) or Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD) supported with scientifically formulated meal replacement to ensure nutritional needs are being met.
Source(s):
4 The assessment of binge eating severity among obese persons
About the Author: Dr. Dawn M. Sweet has over 20 years of experience in the field of communication. Dr. Sweet has given several invited talks to and workshops for academic and private sector audiences on the role of nonverbal and verbal communication in achieving positive outcomes and mitigating bias. Her research has been published in several top ranked peer-review journals, and it has been featured on NPR’s River to River / All Things Considered, Buzzfeed, and Science Daily. Her research has also been used to inform expert testimony.
About Robard: For 45 years, Robard Corporation’s medical obesity treatment programs and nutrition products have been utilized by physicians, surgeons and hospitals across the United States to successfully treat patients living with obesity. To learn more about us and how we can help your practice and patients, visit us online at www.Robard.com, email us at info@robard.com, or call (800) 222-9201.
