Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Response to Semaglutide Administered to Obese Subjects.
NCT05419726 · Recruiting
Last updated 2026-05-28This clinical trial tests whether the medication semaglutide affects the activity of brown fat in people with obesity when exposed to cold.
What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05419726 ↗
Description as written by the study sponsor.
Glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) agonists, such as liraglutide, exenatide, and semaglutide, have been increasingly used as a medication to address the current twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Their activities include increasing insulin production by pancreatic beta cells, improving insulin sensitivity in muscles and weight loss. The mechanisms underpinning the weight loss caused by GLP-1 agonists have not yet been fully elucidated, but brown adipose tissue (BAT) appears to play an important role. We propose to assess BAT activity, using infrared thermography camera images, before individuals start weekly administration of semaglutide, at week 2-4, and week 18-20. We hypothesize that this GLP-1 agonist, semaglutide, will cause an increase in BAT activity and a corresponding increase in basal metabolic rate.
Treatments tested
- Semaglutide Injectable Product (not provided by the study) Drug
Study Procedure: Subjects that are to be started on semaglutide by their physician will be invited to participate in the study. If the subject is eligible and signs the consent form they will be enrolled in the study. There are three (3) study visits including Baseline/Visit 1 (prior to starting semaglutide), Visit 2 (at week 2-4) and Visit 3 (at week 18-20). The subjects undergo these tests at each visit: weight circumference measured, BMR testing, thermal imaging of BAT, and perform a 24 hour food recall.
| Main thing measured | change in supraclavicular temperature with cold exposure |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
| GLP-1 drugs | semaglutide |
Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05419726 ↗