GLP-1 Agonism to Preserve Muscle During Very Low Calorie Diets

Very-low Calorie Diets (VLCDs) are highly effective for weight loss in individuals with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, but often lead to significant lean muscle mass loss. Preserving muscle is crucial for metabolic health and long-term weight management, as it impacts basal metabolic rate and insulin sensitivity. This Phase 4 clinical trial aims to investigate if GLP-1 agonism can prevent lean muscle loss during VLCDs.

As this is a clinical trial registration (NCT05606471), the results are not yet available, with an estimated completion date of July 28, 2023. The researchers hypothesize that Semaglutide treatment will significantly mitigate the lean muscle mass loss typically observed with Very-low Calorie Diets. They expect to see a greater preservation of lean body mass in the Semaglutide group compared to the control group, potentially quantified by DEXA scans and other body composition analyses. The primary hypothesis is that Semaglutide will demonstrate anabolic effects, leading to significantly reduced lean muscle mass loss during an 800 kilocalorie per day VLCD.