The Anhedonia Question: Can GLP-1s Reduce Pleasure?

Anhedonia (n.)

The inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities. A hallmark symptom of depression, but can occur in other contexts.

The reports trickle in among the overwhelmingly positive GLP-1 experiences: some people say they've lost interest not just in food, but in... everything. Hobbies feel flat. Social events seem pointless. Life loses some of its color.

Is this a real side effect? How common is it? And what do we actually know?

What Some People Report

⚠️ The Concerning Side

"Food was my favorite thing. Now I eat because I have to. Meals that used to bring me joy feel like a chore."

"I noticed I stopped wanting to do things I used to love. Video games, hanging out with friends, even sex. Everything felt 'meh.'"

"Lost the weight but lost myself in the process. I'm not sure this version of me is better."

These reports are concerning—and they're real experiences that shouldn't be dismissed. But they need context.

The Other Side

✓ The More Common Experience

"I enjoy food MORE now—I'm not obsessing about it constantly, so when I do eat, I actually taste it and appreciate it."

"I have MORE energy for hobbies because I'm not exhausted from fighting food thoughts all day."

"Social events are better now—I'm present instead of thinking about the buffet."

For many people, GLP-1 medications increase life satisfaction by removing the mental burden of constant food obsession. The experience varies dramatically.

The Science: "Wanting" vs. "Liking"

Neuroscientists distinguish between two components of pleasure:

Desire System

"Wanting"

The motivation to seek something. The craving. The "I need this." This is dopamine-driven.

Pleasure System

"Liking"

The actual enjoyment when you experience something. The "this is good." This involves opioid and other systems.

What GLP-1s Seem to Affect

Research suggests GLP-1 medications primarily reduce "wanting"—the compulsive drive to seek rewards—rather than "liking"—the ability to enjoy experiences.

For most people, this is the ideal outcome: you lose the obsessive craving but can still enjoy food when you eat it. However, these systems are interconnected, and some individuals may experience blunting of pleasure as well.

Who Might Be More Vulnerable?

Based on patient reports and clinical observation, some patterns emerge:

People for whom food was a primary joy: If eating was your main source of pleasure, removing that without adding new sources can feel like depression
Those with underlying depression: GLP-1s may unmask or worsen existing mood issues in some cases
Rapid dose escalation: Moving up too fast may overwhelm the brain's ability to adapt
Higher doses: Some anhedonia reports seem more common at maximum doses

What the Labels Say

FDA labels for semaglutide and tirzepatide do include warnings about depression and suicidal ideation—though these were not more common than placebo in clinical trials. The FDA requires monitoring as a precaution.

True anhedonia beyond food is not explicitly listed as a common side effect, but the mechanism is plausible enough that it warrants attention.

If You're Experiencing This

Talk to your prescriber—dose reduction may help
Distinguish between "the food obsession is gone" (usually good) and "nothing feels good anymore" (concerning)
Consider whether food was masking underlying depression that now needs treatment
Give it time—some adaptation occurs over weeks/months
If mood significantly worsens, stopping the medication is always an option

The Honest Take

This is an area where we don't have complete data. Large trials weren't designed to measure subtle changes in pleasure or motivation. The phenomenon is real for some people, but we don't know exactly how common it is or who's most at risk. More research is needed.

The Bottom Line

Some people report reduced enjoyment of life beyond just food on GLP-1 medications—an experience that might be called anhedonia. This appears to be uncommon, but it's a real phenomenon for those who experience it. The science suggests these drugs primarily reduce "wanting" (craving) rather than "liking" (pleasure), but individual responses vary. For most people, GLP-1s improve quality of life by removing food obsession. For a minority, the effect may extend to other pleasures. If you notice this, talk to your doctor—dose adjustment or discontinuation are options. Your quality of life matters more than any number on the scale.

Sources

FDA prescribing information for semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound).
Berridge KC, Robinson TE. "Parsing reward." Trends Neurosci. (Wanting vs. Liking framework).
Patient experience reports from clinical and online sources.
Research on GLP-1 receptors and dopamine signaling in reward pathways.