# Suppressed appetite on GLP-1s: what to track, when it tends to show up, and how to log it

> GLP-1 appetite suppression is the intended effect and, on the Mounjaro label, a listed side effect (5-11%). What to log so you can tell useful from too much, and how to track it in Peppy.

Source: https://peppytracker.com/side-effects/suppressed-appetite/
Last updated: 2026-08-30

Suppressed appetite is the point of a GLP-1, and also a listed adverse reaction: Mounjaro's label reports decreased appetite in 5%, 10% and 11% of patients at 5, 10 and 15 mg versus 1% on placebo. It tends to be strongest in the days after a shot and after each step-up. Log a 1-5 score daily next to your weight so you and your prescriber can see when 'less hungry' turns into 'not eating'.

## GLP-1 appetite suppression: what it is and who reports it

GLP-1 appetite suppression is the odd one out on this list. It is the effect people are taking the medication for, and at the same time it is something worth tracking as a side effect, because "less hungry" and "cannot face food" are different states that look the same on a scale. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, compounded semaglutide), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound, compounded tirzepatide) and liraglutide (Saxenda) all slow stomach emptying and act on appetite signalling.

Only one label puts a number on it as an adverse reaction:

| Label | Decreased appetite (drug) | Placebo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mounjaro 5 / 10 / 15 mg | 5% / 10% / 11% | 1% |
| Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Saxenda | Not listed as a separate row in the adverse reactions tables |

That does not mean Wegovy or Zepbound users do not notice it. It means the trials filed it differently. The dose-response in Mounjaro's row, doubling from 5 mg to 10 mg, is the useful part: appetite suppression tracks the dose, which is exactly why a step-up is the moment to watch. Compounded [Compounded Semaglutide](https://peppytracker.com/compounds/semaglutide-compounded/) and [Compounded Tirzepatide](https://peppytracker.com/compounds/tirzepatide-compounded/) have no label; the branded figures are the nearest reference.

Peppy tracks two neighbours of this item separately. [Food noise](https://peppytracker.com/side-effects/food-noise/) is the mental chatter about food; suppressed appetite is the physical lack of hunger. Many people report the first fading before the second. Logging both shows which one your dose is actually doing.

## When it tends to show up

**After each step-up.** Wegovy steps up every four weeks (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7, 2.4 mg); Zepbound starts at 2.5 mg for four weeks and moves in 2.5 mg increments after at least four weeks on a dose; Saxenda starts at 0.6 mg daily for one week and escalates weekly. Many people report the first one to two weeks on a new dose as the flattest appetite, with some of it returning as the body adjusts. Mounjaro's label says of gastric emptying: "The delay is largest after the first dose and this effect diminishes over time."

**The first few days after a weekly shot.** Many people report they eat least on days one to three and notice hunger drifting back by day six or seven. Zepbound's label puts the median time to peak concentration at 24 hours, with a range of 8 to 72 hours. That is a reason to log the day-of-week and not just the score. The [half-life guide](https://peppytracker.com/guides/how-long-does-semaglutide-stay-in-your-system/) explains why the effect does not switch off at the end of the week.

On a daily shot like Saxenda the rhythm is week over week rather than day over day, so the comparison to make is this week's average against last week's.

## What is worth logging

- **A 1-5 score, once a day, same time.** Decide what the scale means before you start. A 1 is normal appetite; a 5 is skipping meals without noticing. Scoring at the same time keeps the numbers comparable.
- **Days since the shot.** "Day 2 after the shot" is what turns a column of numbers into a curve.
- **Which dose you were on.** Every step-up is a new baseline. Appetite at 5 mg in week 6 and at 7.5 mg in week 10 should be read separately.
- **Weight, on the same day.** This is the item that makes the appetite log mean something. A high suppression score with a stable weight and a high score with a steep drop are different conversations. The [weight tracker guide](https://peppytracker.com/guides/glp-1-weight-tracker-apple-health/) covers how Peppy reads and writes Apple Health.
- **A one-line note.** "Managed lunch, skipped dinner", "forced fluids", "nausea too". Peppy also scores nausea separately, and the two often travel together.
- **The Appetite control feeling.** Peppy's feelings scale (on by default) records how in control you felt, which is not the same thing as how hungry you were.

## When to contact your prescriber

The labels do not set a line for "too little appetite". They do describe the situations around it.

- **Not eating or drinking for a day or more.** The Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound labels say most reported cases of acute kidney injury occurred in patients with gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration. Saxenda's label says to monitor renal function in patients with reactions that could lead to volume depletion. An empty appetite log plus low fluids is the pattern to flag.
- **Weight dropping faster than the plan.** Bring the weight and appetite lines together; this is a dosing conversation, not a self-adjustment.
- **Low blood sugar symptoms if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea.** Mounjaro's and Ozempic's labels say patients on those combinations "may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia." Suppressed appetite makes that more likely, not less.
- **Appetite loss with persistent or severe abdominal pain.** The labels list this under the pancreatitis warning on every GLP-1.

## How to do this in Peppy

1. **Turn suppressed appetite on.** It is not one of the five GLP-1 defaults (those are nausea, constipation, heartburn, sulfur burps and food noise), so open Settings ▸ Tracking and toggle Suppressed appetite. Appetite control is already on under feelings.
2. **Score it in the daily check-in.** On the Today tab, tap the check-in row. Set suppressed appetite from 1 to 5, set Appetite control under feelings, enter your weight, add the note. It counts toward your streak.
3. **Log the shot.** Log your weekly dose from the Today tab or the Next Shot widget (Pro). Peppy records the time, site and the dose you were on, which is the "days since" and "which dose" half of the log. With a titration ladder set up (Pro), the dose auto-advances so you never have to remember what step you were on.
4. **Read Progress (Pro).** The Progress tab shows your weight trend with step-up markers on the same timeline as the side-effect heat-map. A dark suppressed-appetite row right after each marker, fading through the month, is the pattern the labels describe. Free users see the chart blurred.
5. **Use the Calendar for the shot-day relationship.** Open a week in the week strip and see whether your highest scores sit on day one to three after a shot or spread evenly.
6. **Export it before an appointment (Pro).** Settings ▸ Export gives you a PDF or CSV of doses and check-ins, with weight and appetite side by side. Peppy never sends it anywhere itself.

The [side-effects and food-noise guide](https://peppytracker.com/guides/track-glp-1-side-effects-food-noise/) covers the whole check-in setup. Related pages: [food noise](https://peppytracker.com/side-effects/food-noise/), [nausea](https://peppytracker.com/side-effects/nausea/), [fatigue](https://peppytracker.com/side-effects/fatigue/).

## Frequently asked

### Does semaglutide suppress appetite?

Yes, that is the mechanism. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) slow gastric emptying and act on appetite signalling. The Wegovy and Ozempic labels do not list decreased appetite as a separate adverse reaction; the Mounjaro label does, at 5-11% depending on dose versus 1% on placebo.

### How long after the shot does appetite suppression kick in?

Many people report the strongest effect in the first two to four days after a weekly shot, with appetite creeping back toward the end of the week. Zepbound's label gives a median time to peak concentration of 24 hours. A daily 1-5 log against shot day shows your own curve.

### Does appetite suppression wear off over time?

Partly, for many people. Mounjaro's label says the delay in gastric emptying is largest after the first dose and diminishes over time. Every step-up is a new baseline, so compare weeks within one dose rather than across the whole year.

### Is it bad if I have no appetite at all on Wegovy or Zepbound?

The labels do not set a threshold, but they do warn that gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration have been linked to acute kidney injury. If you are not eating or drinking for a day or more, or losing weight faster than your prescriber expected, contact them.

### How do I track appetite on a GLP-1?

Score it 1-5 once a day at the same time, log the shot so the offset is known, and record weight on the same day. In Peppy the daily check-in holds all three, and the Progress tab lines appetite up against weight and step-up markers.

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Peppy is a tracking tool, not medical advice. Dose calculations are mathematical conversions only. Always follow your prescriber's instructions and verify every draw-up yourself.

Peppy is a free iPhone app (Pro subscription optional). App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/peptide-tracker-peppy/id6775005514