(VP112) THE EFFECT OF TIRZEPATIDE DURING WEIGHT LOSS ON FOOD INTAKE, APPETITE, FOOD PREFERENCE AND FOOD CRAVING IN PEOPLE WITH OBESITY

Background: Tirzepatide (TZP) promotes significant and 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.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this 18-week phase 1 study, 55 people with obesity, with baseline body weight of 102.8 kg were randomized (1:1) to TZP 15mg or PBO. Food intake was measured during ad libitum lunch (664 kcal, PBO and 682 kcal, TZP) and dinner (1178 kcal, PBO and 1190 kcal, TZP) at baseline and after 18 weeks 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, week-8, and week-18. Mean body weight loss at week-18 was 16.7kg with TZP and 8.3kg 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 (60±42, 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 week-1. TZP significantly decreased food preference scores in 10 of 12 FPQ metrics at week-8 and week-18 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 week-8 and week-18, compared to PBO.

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