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. 2023 Jul 20:7:100080.
doi: 10.1016/j.obpill.2023.100080. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Successful treatment of binge eating disorder with the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide: A retrospective cohort study

Jesse Richards  1 , Neha Bang  1 , Erin L Ratliff  2 , Maria A Paszkowiak  1 , Zhamak Khorgami  1 , Sahib S Khalsa  3 , W Kyle Simmons  2   4
Affiliations

Successful treatment of binge eating disorder with the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide: A retrospective cohort study

Jesse Richards et al. Obes Pillars. .

Abstract

Objective: Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder, and yet only one pharmacotherapy (lisdexamfetamine), which has known abuse-potential, is FDA-approved. Topiramate is also commonly prescribed off-label for binge eating but has many contraindications. In contrast, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) analog semaglutide has profound effects on central satiety signaling leading to reduced food intake, and has been approved for the treatment of obesity based on its efficacy and safety profile. Semaglutide would thus seem to be a potential candidate for the treatment of BED.

Methods: This open-label study examined the effects of semaglutide on Binge Eating Scale (BES) scores in individuals with BED. Patients were divided into three groups: those prescribed semaglutide, those prescribed either lisdexamphetamine or topiramate, and those prescribed a combination of semaglutide with lisdexamphetamine or topiramate.

Results: Patients receiving semaglutide only exhibited greater reductions in BES scores compared to the other groups. Combined pharmacotherapy with both semaglutide and the other anti-obesity medications did not result in greater reductions in BES scores compared to the semaglutide-only group. Findings were similar in patients with moderate/severe BED, as well as the full sample.

Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of semaglutide in binge eating disorder warrant further investigation.

Keywords: Binge eating disorder; GLP-1 agonist; Semaglutide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Richards is on Speaker Bureau for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk and is on Advisory Board for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. The other authors report no disclosures to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean change in BES score for patients with moderate or severe initial BES scores treated with semaglutide only (SEMA_ONLY, n ​= ​19), a combination of semaglutide and other anti-obesity medications (SEMA ​+ ​OAOM, n ​= ​13), and other anti-obesity medications only (OAOM, n ​= ​16). n ​= ​48. ∗∗p <.01. Error bars = standard error of the mean.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Change in BES score from baseline to follow-up for patients with moderate or severe initial BES scores. (A) Patients treated with semaglutide only (SEMA_ONLY), (B) patients treated with a combination of semaglutide and other anti-obesity medications (SEMA ​+ ​OAOM), (C) and patients treated with other anti-obesity medications (OAOM).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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