Brain Plasticity and GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment for Obesity

NCT07021937 · Not yet recruiting

Last updated 2026-05-28

This clinical trial is testing how a GLP-1 receptor agonist affects brain function in adults with obesity.

Status Not yet recruiting Approved but enrollment has not started.

Phase Phase 3 Confirms effectiveness in a large group before approval.

Type Interventional (clinical trial)

Design Randomized, quadruple-blind treatment study

Participants 120 people Planned (estimated).

Who can join Ages 12–45 · all sexes

Timeline Started 2026-05 · est. completion 2031-04

Where 1 site · United States

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07021937 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have been rapidly adopted for the treatment of obesity in both youth and adults. However, despite this rapid adoption and the known GLP-1RA mechanism of action for weight loss, which targets brain circuits responsible for appetite and eating behaviors, almost nothing is known about how these drugs affect the brain in youth who are treated for obesity, or how these drugs affect the brain of youth differently from adults. The goal of the current study is to compare youth and adults with obesity who are treated a GLP-1RA and measure potential difference in GLP-1RA associated change in brain function, appetite, and eating behaviors.

Treatments tested

Semaglutide 1.7mg subcutaneous also known as SEMA Drug

Semaglutide subcutaneous max dose of 1.7mg over 24 or 32 weeks of active treatment
Placebo Drug

Placebo saline solution subcutaneous

Main thing measured	hypothalamic functional activation
Sponsor	University of Colorado, Denver
Conditions studied	Obesity/Therapy
GLP-1 drugs	—

Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07021937 ↗