Study of Semaglutide Therapy With or Without Exercise to Improve Muscle and Physical Function in Adults Aged 50 to 75 With Obesity

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists GLP-1 RAs on muscle mass, physical function, and brain signaling related to appetite in adults aged 50 to 75 with obesity and decreased physical function. This study aims to understand how 1 year of GLP-1 RA therapy, with or without exercise training, impacts these outcomes and what happens after stopping the treatment for another year. The study is a randomized clinical trial lasting 2 years. Participants are divided into two groups. One group will receive semaglutide injections once weekly along with diet behavior counseling for 52 weeks. The other group will receive the same semaglutide treatment and diet counseling plus supervised exercise training three days a week and unsupervised sessions 2 to 3 days a week for the same period. After this 1-year treatment period, all participants will stop the GLP-1 medication and exercise if applicable, and their muscle and appetite-related outcomes will be monitored for another year. During the study, participants will have assessments of physical function and body composition at the start, after 52 weeks of treatment, and again 52 weeks after stopping treatment. Additional measures include muscle mass, muscle volume, insulin sensitivity, muscle strength on various exercises, and brain connectivity in a subset of participants. The study includes regular monitoring of these outcomes to evaluate the effects of treatment and cessation over the 2-year period.

Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist Therapy and Exercise Training in People With Obesity