Oxytocin levels do not change around a meal and correlate with reward‐driven caloric consumption in adults with obesity
Authors' conclusion
In obesity, OT levels did not change postprandially. Greater OT exposure was linked to lower satisfaction and increased hedonic eating, suggesting dysregulated OT signalling in obesity potentially contributing to overeating.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with obesity (56% female; age 33.55 ± 0.81 years; BMI 36.77 ± 0.62 kg/m²) given a standardised meal after an overnight fast
- Participants
- 61 adults
- Outcome
- Change in peripheral OT levels in response to a meal; relation of OT AUC to hedonic eating drive (visual analogue scales (VAS), CTT)
- Follow-up
- Pre-meal and 30, 60, and 120 min post-meal
Methodological detailsstandardised meal test, linear mixed effects models, linear regression and mediation analyses
- Standardised meal test
- Linear mixed effects models
- Linear regression and mediation analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Greater oxytocin (OT) AUC associated with reduced postprandial satisfaction
- p = 0.008, d = 1.00
- Greater OT AUC associated with higher Cookie Taste Test (CTT) caloric intake
- p = 0.036, d = 0.62
- OT AUC–CTT caloric intake relationship mediated by OT's effect on postprandial satisfaction
- p = 0.014, proportion mediated = 53.28%
Original publication
Oxytocin levels do not change around a meal and correlate with reward‐driven caloric consumption in adults with obesity. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 15 December 2025. doi:10.
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