Semaglutide+Reduces+Overconsumption+of+HFD+in+a+Rodent+Model+of+Binge+Eating

Abstract

Semaglutide (SEMA; marketed as Ozempic®) has been shown to decrease palatable food intake, leading to weight loss, in individuals with obesity. Less is known about its ability to decrease binge eating in individuals with bulimic syndromes. The current study tested the hypothesis that SEMA treatment would attenuate overconsumption of high fat diet (HFD) in a pre-clinical rodent model of binge-like eating. To promote binge eating, chow-fed female rats were given intermittent access to HFD once every fourth day while receiving daily injections of SEMA or vehicle (INT groups). Weight-matched control groups received similar SEMA/vehicle injections while fed a chow diet with no access to HFD (CHOW groups) or given free access to both chow and HFD (HFD groups). Food intake and body weight were measured daily during this phase of the study. Following the binge-eating paradigm, SEMA's ability to decrease hedonic eating was further assessed via a 30-min chocolate Ensure "dessert" test, administered immediately after the consumption of a satiating meal. Body composition was assessed via EchoMRI at the end of the study. During the binge eating paradigm, when HFD was available on "binge days", INT rats consumed 30-40% more calories (i.e., binged) during the first 2h of the dark phase relative to control groups. SEMA decreased food intake on binge days in INT rats but did not alter food intake during the same 2-h interval in the CHOW and HFD control groups. During the dessert test, SEMA decreased chocolate Ensure intake by 40-50% in INT rats but had no effect in the CHOW and HFD control groups. SEMA decreased fat mass in INT and HFD rats but had no effect in CHOW rats. We conclude that SEMA decreases binge-like and hedonic eating in female rats with prior exposure to HFD, while also decreasing weight gain and adiposity in all rats exposed to HFD. Future studies will assess SEMA's ability to alter meal-stimulated neuronal activation in brain areas that control food intake and the neuroinflammation induced by HFD consumption.