The Study
Brain activity associated with breakthrough food preoccupation in an individual on tirzepatide
This study watched one person’s brain while they thought about food, and noticed that when they felt strong cravings, their brain made a certain kind of electrical signal. But we don’t know if the medicine caused that signal — it might’ve been because they were healing from surgery or just having a bad day.
Analysis score
Maximum 30 for a case report.
Where the score came from
A woman on a weight-loss drug called tirzepatide had a brain implant that recorded her brain waves. When she suddenly started thinking about food non-stop, her brain showed a special pattern of slow waves in the 'reward center'. When she wasn't thinking about food, the pattern disappeared.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 530 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This suggests the brain pattern might act like an early warning signal for food cravings, even when someone is on medication meant to reduce them.
- 2The slow brain wave pattern (delta-theta) was strong when she had food cravings and weak when she didn't.
- 3It appeared 7 weeks before the cravings came back.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nature Medicine
Year
2025
Authors
Wonkyung Choi, Young-Hoon Nho, Liming Qiu, Andrew Chang, Gustavo Campos, Robert L. Seilheimer, W. B. Wilent, David Bakalov, Nida Firdous, M. Kerr, Disha S. Joshi, Gabriella Maze, Uros Topalovic, Daniel Batista, N. Suthana, Anastassia Amaro, Matthew R. Hayes, Iahn Cajigas, Mario Cristancho, Kelly C. Allison, Bijan Pesaran, Katherine W. Scangos, Joshua I. Gold, T. Wadden, Casey H. Halpern
Related Content
Claims (6)
In three individuals, including one taking tirzepatide, brain wave activity in the nucleus accumbens at frequencies below 7 Hz increased during intense food-focused thoughts compared to periods without such thoughts.
In one person taking tirzepatide, a specific brainwave pattern in a region linked to reward processing appeared about seven weeks before intense food cravings returned, indicating this pattern might predict the recurrence of cravings.
In one person with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes taking tirzepatide, a specific pattern of brainwave activity in a region linked to reward processing occurred at the same time as intense cravings for food, indicating a possible link between brain activity and this behavior.
In one person taking tirzepatide, a specific brainwave pattern in the nucleus accumbens was not present when food-related thoughts decreased. This pattern may be linked to how strongly someone is focused on food at a given time, rather than being a permanent feature of their brain.
Medications that activate GLP-1 receptors are associated with lower urges to eat high-calorie foods and reduced persistent thoughts about food in people.
In one person with obesity and type 2 diabetes, changes in intense food cravings were linked to changes in a specific brainwave pattern in a region involved in reward processing during treatment with tirzepatide. When cravings decreased, the brainwave pattern also decreased; when cravings returned after a higher dose, the brainwave pattern increased.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.