Combined Effects of GLP-1 Analogue and Exercise on Maintenance of Weight Loss and Health After Very-low Calorie Diet

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04122716 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

Introduction: The success rate of weight loss maintenance is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the maintenance of weight loss and immunometabolic health outcomes after diet-induced weight loss followed by one-year treatment with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (liraglutide), physical exercise, or the combination of both treatments as compared with placebo in individuals with obesity. Methods and analysis: This is an investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. The investigators will enroll women and men (age 18 to 65 years) with obesity (body mass index 32 to 43 kg/m2) to adhere to a very low-calorie diet (800 kcal/day) for eight weeks in order to lose at least 5 % of body weight. Subsequently, participants will be randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to one of four study groups for 52 weeks: 1) placebo, 2) exercise 150 min/week + placebo, 3) liraglutide 3.0 mg/day, and 4) exercise 150 min/week + liraglutide 3.0 mg/day. Re-screening is allowed within the recruitment period. The primary endpoint is change in body weight from randomization to end-of-treatment. Ethics and dissemination: The trial has been approved by the ethical committee of the Capital Region of Denmark (H-16027082) and the Danish Medicines Agency (EudraCT 2015-005585-32). The trial will be conducted in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and monitored to follow the guidelines for good clinical practice. Results will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Treatments tested

• Liraglutide also known as Saxenda Drug

  Daily injections (3mg) with weight consultations starting at dose of 0.6 mg injections with 0.6 mg increments weekly until 3.0 mg is achieved. For subjects who do not tolerate the fast weekly up-titration of 0.6 mg study drug until the 3mg, the titration procedure can be prolonged with up to three weeks for each up-titration. Subjects who do not tolerate the 3mg dose may in special circumstances stay at 2.4 mg, however the overall aim is to reach 3 mg for all study subjects. The dosage and up-titration follow the recommendations from the summary of product characteristics.

• Exercise Behavioral

  150 min of moderate intensity, 75 min of vigorous intensity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity exercise per week in accordance with WHO recommendations. Exercise prescription will be performed under strict control of the scientific personnel. There will be aerobic exercise and will include 4 sessions per week after the ramp-in period. 2 sessions per week will be performed under supervision of the staff and 2 sessions will be performed individually but monitored by the staff. Supervised sessions include structured exercise with a duration of 45 min. Of this 30 min will comprise of interval-based spinning session and 15 min circuit training program focusing on large muscle groups. Individual exercise includes aerobic exercise and general physical activity (e.g brisk walking and cycling to work). Participants will use heart rate monitors during sessions.