How does tirzepatide affect the brain's reward center?

Tirzepatide appeared to temporarily suppress food-craving signals in the nucleus accumbens, the brain's reward center, in one observed patient.

Can Eli Lilly's weight-loss drugs treat eating disorders?

While current findings are preliminary, they suggest future versions of GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide might be adapted for treating certain eating disorders.

What is 'food noise' and how does tirzepatide impact it?

'Food noise' refers to food preoccupation. Tirzepatide temporarily silenced these signals and reduced food preoccupation in one study participant.

Home / Health / Brain Scans Show Weight Drug Quiets Food Cravings

Brain Scans Show Weight Drug Quiets Food Cravings

18 Nov, 2025

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Summary

A GLP-1 weight-loss drug temporarily suppressed food cravings in brain scans.
Direct brain activity measurements show drug's impact on 'food noise'.
Findings suggest potential for eating disorder treatments with future drug versions.

Brain Scans Show Weight Drug Quiets Food Cravings

Researchers monitoring brain activity in a patient with a severe binge-eating disorder observed that Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drug, tirzepatide, temporarily silenced food-craving signals in the brain's reward center. This marks the first direct measurement of brain activity in a person receiving tirzepatide, offering insights into its effect on 'food noise.'

The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved monitoring a patient undergoing deep-brain stimulation for loss-of-control eating disorders. One participant, who was prescribed tirzepatide for diabetes and obesity, showed a remarkable lack of food preoccupation and silent nucleus accumbens food-craving signals during initial monitoring.

While the drug's impact on binge-eating was temporary, suggesting it was optimized for diabetes and weight loss rather than eating disorders, the findings are promising. Researchers believe future GLP-1 drugs could be redesigned to target the brain's reward mechanisms for more lasting effects on severe food preoccupation.