Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Body Composition in Obesity: The Role of Dietary Protein Consumption in Muscle Mass Maintenance

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

This study investigates how weight-loss medications, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists, affect body composition, with a special focus on preserving muscle mass in adults with obesity. While these medications are highly effective for weight loss, they can sometimes lead to an unwanted loss of valuable muscle mass (a condition that can lead to sarcopenia). To explore how to prevent this, researchers are conducting a 3- to 6-month randomized controlled trial involving adults aged 30 to 65 years with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m². Participants who are receiving GLP-1 medications will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive the standard medication treatment alone, while the other group will receive the medication along with specific dietary guidance focused on increasing daily protein intake.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07495904

Run by

Hellenic Mediterranean University

People needed

130

Starts

2026-03-30

Expected to finish

2029-01-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-02

Who can join

Age: 30 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adults 30-65 years old
• BMI: ≥30 kg/m²
• Signed Informed Consent

You may not qualify if…

• A. Metabolic and Medical Conditions:
• Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c > 9.0%)
• Known cardiovascular disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart failure NYHA 3-4)
• Chronic kidney disease stage 4-5 (GFR <60 ml/min)
• Liver disease (known hepatitis, ALT ≥ 3 or total bilirubin ≥ 2 times ULN)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Celiac disease
• History of pancreatitis
• Any disorder potentially causing malabsorption
• Active cancer or history of malignancy within the past 3 years
• Psychiatric disorders affecting adherence or assessment B. Medication and Supplement Use
• Chronic use of medications affecting metabolism or body composition (e.g., corticosteroids, anti-obesity drugs)
• Use of anti-inflammatory or antioxidant medications
• Use of probiotics, prebiotics, or laxatives within the last month
• Unstable medication regimen (changes within the past 3 months)
• Use of protein and creatine supplements.
• C. Dietary and Lifestyle Factors:
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Engagement in intense regular physical activity
• D. Reproductive Status:
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Pregnancy within the past 12 months
• Plans to become pregnant during the study
• E. Other:
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with participation, adherence, or the interpretation of study results.

Where it is running

• 1st Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Heraklion — Heraklion, Greece (enrolling)
• Human Dietetics & Body Composition Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University — Heraklion, Greece (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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