Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Response to Semaglutide Administered to Obese Subjects.

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05419726

Run by

University of California, Los Angeles

People needed

20

Starts

2023-02-01

Expected to finish

2026-02-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-05-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Subjects scheduled to start semaglutide for weight loss (drug not provided by or paid for by the study)
• >18 years of age and willing to participate
• Male or post-menopausal females

You may not qualify if…

• History of prior neck surgery and /or neck irradiation
• Use of beta blocker agents
• Use of any other glucose lowering medication
• History of neuropathic disorders (e.g. diabetic neuropathy)
• Diabetic patients
• Individuals without normal thyroid function
• Individuals with cancer
• Any significant chronic disease or renal, hepatic or endocrine disease
• Current smokers
• Inability of patient to provide consent either for medical reasons or psychiatric reasons

Where it is running

• UCLA Health — Los Angeles, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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