The takeaway
Semaglutide participants reported better control over cravings after two years. That does not mean every appetite measure improved equally.
Who took part?
This exploratory analysis followed 174 US and Canadian participants within STEP 5—not a separate trial. Adults with overweight or obesity, without diabetes, received weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo alongside lifestyle support.
Self-reported outcomes; unadjusted comparisons, not effect sizes
Craving control and savory cravings
Nominal differences at weeks 20, 52 and 104
Sweet cravings and mood
Nominal differences at weeks 20 and 52
Hunger and fullness
Nominal differences at week 20 only
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Craving control and savory cravings | Nominal differences at weeks 20, 52 and 104 |
| Sweet cravings and mood | Nominal differences at weeks 20 and 52 |
| Hunger and fullness | Nominal differences at week 20 only |
What did people notice?
A questionnaire tracked eating experiences over 104 weeks. Semaglutide improved craving control and savory-food craving scores compared with placebo at weeks 20, 52 and 104.
Sweet cravings and mood showed clearer differences earlier. Hunger and fullness differed significantly only at week 20. These results do not establish that hunger disappeared for two years.
How much confidence should we have?
This was a small, mostly White, mostly female subgroup. Testing many questionnaire outcomes without statistical adjustment increases the chance of false-positive findings. Reported experiences also cannot prove the biological reason weight changed.
Novo Nordisk funded the study. Our main STEP 5 summary covers weight results and side effects.