Understanding why weight loss plateaus in people with obesity
Official title: Physiological changes underlying the weight loss plateau in humans
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11391109 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study with adults to understand why body weight often stops dropping after initial loss and what brain and body signals are involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $745,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134417-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391109 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity or overweight who are participating in behavioral weight-loss programs and are at or beyond the initial weight-loss phase.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not pursuing behavioral weight-loss programs or without weight-loss Plateaus may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on adults who are trying to lose weight through behavioral programs. It will examine how energy use, appetite signals, and brain areas related to reward change after weight loss. Researchers will measure mitochondrial activity in blood cells and assess tissue changes in muscle and fat to see how these relate to a plateau in weight loss. The goal is to identify biological and neural factors that make sustained weight loss harder and to inform future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better strategies to prevent weight regain after initial weight loss, improving long-term health.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence suggests metabolic and neural changes accompany weight loss, but more data are needed to confirm links to plateaus.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schur, Ellen a — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Schur, Ellen a
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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.