Effects of Semaglutide on Brain Dopamine Responses to Food Cues in Adults With Obesity and Food Addiction Tendencies

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07732426 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how semaglutide affects the way the brain responds to food in adults with obesity and food addiction tendencies. The main goals of this study are: * To see if semaglutide changes dopamine-related activity in the brain during the look, smell, and drink period. * To see if semaglutide changes dopamine-related brain signals during the post-ingestive period. * To see if semaglutide changes psychological survey results and cognitive task results. Adults with obesity and food addiction tendencies will join this study. Each participant will receive semaglutide treatment for 8 weeks. Each participant will have two brain scans using \[11C\]raclopride PET. During each PET scan, participants will: * View food images. * Receive chocolate milk through a tube while lying in the scanner. * Use a tablet during the scan to rate their hunger, desire for the chocolate milk drink, and liking of the drink.

Treatments tested

• Semaglutide also known as Wegovy Drug

  Participants receive an 8-week subcutaneous semaglutide dose-escalation treatment using Wegovy: 0.25 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg once weekly for the next 4 weeks.