Predictors of Weight Loss Response in Teens for Lifestyle Changes and GLP-1 Therapy
Official title: Predictors of Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance to Lifestyle Modification Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adolescents with Obesity
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11326717 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Teens with obesity may have different brain and behavior profiles that help predict how well they respond to lifestyle changes or GLP-1 drug therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $374,627 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131029-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326717 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents aged 12-20 with obesity who are candidates for lifestyle modification with or without GLP-1–based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Teens not seeking pharmacotherapy or not engaging with lifestyle modification may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This study looks at how neurobehavioral traits in adolescents with obesity relate to how much weight they lose and whether they keep it off when using standard lifestyle changes or adding the GLP-1 drug semaglutide. It builds on prior work and will follow 116 teens over time to see who responds at 6 months and who maintains those gains at 12 months. Researchers will compare predictors between the intensive lifestyle plan and the GLP-1–augmented approach. The goal is to move toward personalized treatment plans that fit each teen’s brain and behavior profile.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians tailor obesity treatments to teens based on neurobehavioral profiles, improving weight loss and maintenance.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches have shown promise in identifying traits that predict weight loss response, though the specific adolescent-focused neurobehavioral predictors are still evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gross, Amy C. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Gross, Amy C.
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.