Research
Hormonal
Chronic consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is associated with increased risk of obesity and weight gain, primarily through mechanisms involving hypothalamic damage, leptin resistance, and altered gut microbiota.
While MSG is legally safe, emerging research suggests high chronic intake, especially from processed foods with hidden MSG, may disrupt appetite regulation and contribute to weight gain. To mitigate potential risk, prioritize whole foods and check labels for hidden sources like hydrolyzed protein or yeast extract.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Several lines of evidence suggest a link between MSG use and weight gain... MSG intake may cause leptin resistance resulting in overweight or obesity by impairing the hypothalamic leptin signaling cascade.
Why this rating
Animal studies show strong effects, but human observational data is inconsistent and prone to measurement error.
Source
Monosodium glutamate: A hidden risk factor for obesity?
Ka Kahe et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2025
DOI 10.1111/obr.13903
narrative_reviewCited 10×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- MSG consumption may increase food intake and palatability, leading to higher energy intake and potential weight gain, particularly in animal models.Moderate
- Human observational studies on MSG and obesity show inconsistent results, with some finding positive associations and others finding no association or inverse associations, largely due to measurement errors and confounding factors.Limited
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