Semaglutide is a medication from the class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists that promote weight loss. There is little clinical data on the best strategy to achieve weight maintenance following weight reduction induced by semaglutide. For people who need to discontinue treatment, it is unknown whether the weight regain, its accompanied health benefits could be ameliorated with a gradual reduction in semaglutide. The investigators will study if a gradual reduction of semaglutide is associated with different heart risk profile and hormones involved in energy regulation as compared to immediate treatment cessation.
It is known that semaglutide induces a supra-physiologic agonism of GLP-1 receptors on central nervous system receptors associated with hedonic eating which likely promotes a homeostatic response (i.e. adaptation) related to appetite control. This concept raises the question of whether a gradual de-escalation of GLP-1RA could ameliorate the tendency for weight regain/cardiometabolic deterioration and compensatory changes in energy balance regulation following cessation of treatment.Thus, the investigators propose an open-label, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial to determine whether a gradual dose reduction in semaglutide prior to complete discontinuation is associated with differential changes in weight and cardiometabolic profile (blood pressure homeostasis and energy balance regulatory hormones) as compared to immediate treatment cessation in individuals living with obesity without pre-existing cardiovascular disease who are receiving semaglutide for weight management.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
98
Pparticipants will reduce semaglutide dosage by 25% every 4-weeks until complete treatment cessation at week 16
Cessation of semaglutide at 16-weeks
Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGDifferences in changes in body weight between each study group
Differences in body weight change (%) between baseline visit 1 (semaglutide discontinuation) and 5 (16-weeks after complete semaglutide withdrawal) will be compared between the study groups
Time frame: 32 weeks
Differences in 24-h systolic BP levels between each study group
Systolic BP will be assessed as the difference in 24-h ambulatory systolic BP between the study groups at visit 5 (16-weeks after complete semaglutide withdrawal)
Time frame: 32 weeks
Differences in fasting ghrelin between each study group
Differences in fasting ghrelin between the study groups will be assessed at week 5 (16-weeks after complete semaglutide withdrawal)
Time frame: 32 weeks
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