Young Adults With Early-onset Obesity Treated With Semaglutide

Summary

Introduction:

The increasing prevalence of obesity is particularly pronounced among adolescents. Currently available treatment options consist of structured lifestyle interventions. However, 25 % of adolescents do not respond to lifestyle treatment, why new effective treatment strategies are needed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of lifestyle interventions combined with the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide to young adults with otherwise treatment resistant obesity.

Methods and analysis:

This is an investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. 180-270 young adults (age 18-28) will be recruited from The Childrens Obesity Clinic (TCOC), Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital. Based on their previous response to the TCOC protocol the participants will be divided in four groups:

Group A: Non-responders: 55-85 young adults with obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2) who have not reduced adiposity, defined as BMI SDS reduction \<0.1, during the structured lifestyle counselling as children.

Group B: Insufficient responders: 55-85 young adults who have reduced adiposity, defined as BMI SDS reduction \>0.25, during the structured lifestyle counselling as children but still have obesity as young adults (BMI≥30 kg/m2)

Group C: Excellent responders: 35-50 young adults, who have reduced adiposity, defined as BMI SDS reduction \>0.5, during the structured lifestyle counselling as children and no longer have obesity as young adults (BMI\<30 kg/m2)

Group D: Population-based reference group (normal weight development): 35-50 young adults, who have participated in The Holbaek Study as children.

Group A and B are randomized 2:1 to either semaglutide or placebo for 68 weeks. Group C and D will attend baseline examinations only and not undergo intervention. The primary endpoint is change in BMI from randomization to end-of-treatment.

Ethics and dissemination: The trial has been approved by the Danish Medicines Agency (EudraCT 2019-002274-31) and by the ethical committee of the Capital Region of Denmark (H-20039422). The trial will be conducted in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and monitored to follow the guidelines for good clinical practice. Results will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Conditions

• Obesity, Adolescent

Interventions

DRUG

Placebo (Semaglutide 3 mg/ml)

Participants will be instructed to initiate at 0.24 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks, and in 4 week intervals, increase the dose until a dose of 2.4 mg is reached. In case of prolonged side effects the dose may be adjusted to lower than 2.4mg/week.

BEHAVIORAL

TCOC treatment

The TCOC protocol is a chronic care, family-based and multidisciplinary childhood obesity treatment program involving behavior-changing techniques, based on current guidelines for best-practice and authoritative recommendations involving a multidisciplinary tertiary team of health care professionals.

DRUG

Semaglutide 3 mg/ml

Participants will be instructed to initiate at 0.24 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks, and in 4 week intervals, increase the dose until a dose of 2.4 mg is reached. In case of prolonged side effects the dose may be adjusted to lower than 2.4mg/week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Leeds

  collaborator OTHER

• Karolinska Institutet

  collaborator OTHER

• Holbaek Sygehus

  collaborator OTHER

• Rigshospitalet, Denmark

  collaborator OTHER

• Signe Torekov

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Signe S Torekov, Prof, PhD · University of Copenhagen

• Jens-Christian Holm, Ass. Prof, PhD · Holbæk University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

28 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-06-01

Primary Completion

2026-04-01

Completion

2026-04-01

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations