GLP-1 Impacts on Weight Management (GLOW)

September 14, 2026 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

GLP-1 Longitudinal Outcomes in Weight Management

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the long-term effects of GLP-1RAs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, or Zepbound) in adolescents and young adults aged 12-21 who will start taking this drug for weight management. The main question it aims to answer is:

How does starting GLP-1RAs impact eating behaviors and mental health symptoms?

Participants starting to take GLP-1RAs as part of their medical care for weight management will answer online survey questions about their experience taking the drug for 1 year.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

This prospective single-arm observational study will enroll 100 adolescents and young adults 12 to 21 years of age who are initiating a prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy or related incretin-based therapy for weight management. The study will assess longitudinal changes in eating behaviors and related clinical features from pre-treatment baseline through 6 months of GLP-1RA treatment, spanning treatment initiation, titration, and maintenance. Exploratory cognitive assessments and biomarker collection will examine behavioral and biological correlates of change. After 6 months, participants will be in follow-up and attend a final study visit at their 12-month mark.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94158
        • University of California San Francisco, Mission Bay Campus
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Marissa Raymond-Flesch, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be 12-21 years olds who plan to begin GLP-1RA treatment for weight management. Participants will be current patients receiving care from UCSF affiliated clinics.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Able to understand and provide informed consent or, for minor participants, able to provide assent with parent/guardian informed consent
  • Age 12 and 21 years at the time of consent
  • Able to read and write in English; for minor participants, at least one parent/guardian must be able to read and write in English or Spanish
  • Willing and able to complete all required in-person and remote study visits and procedures
  • Current binge-eating symptomatology
  • Initiating first-time GLP-1RA therapy or related incretin-based therapy for weight management (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy)
  • Meets current FDA medication eligibility criteria for prescribed GLP-1RA treatment for weight management: BMI ≥95th percentile OR ≥85th percentile with ≥1 weight-related comorbidity for those <18 years old and a BMI>30 or BMI>26 with ≥1 weight-related comorbidity for those 18 years old and older
  • Has reliable access to prescribed GLP1-RA medication through insurance coverage, self-payment, or discount pharmacy plans and is willing to take it as prescribed for the duration of study participation
  • On a stable regimen of permitted concomitant medications for at least 1 month prior to GLP-1RA initiation. Participants recently taking prohibited medications may be eligible after an adequate wash-out period as applicable (minimum of 5 half-lives).
  • Receiving care in a clinic affiliated with the research study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current use of Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) or insufficient washout from such medication prior to GLP-1RA initiation
  • Anticipated medication changes or planned surgical procedures during the study period that, in the investigator's judgment, could affect study participation of interpretation of outcomes
  • Known genetic metabolic or endocrine syndromes associated with obesity, including Prader Willi Syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia
  • Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
  • Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • History of pancreatitis
  • Documented uncontrolled thyroid disease
  • History of bariatric surgery
  • Current pregnancy or known plans to become pregnant within the next 6 months
  • Suicidality or any suicide attempts within the past 3 months
  • Current severe depressive symptoms at screening
  • Any medical, psychiatric, behavioral, or other condition, disorder, or circumstance not otherwise specified in the exclusion criteria that, in the investigator's judgment, may compromise participant safety, study participation, or adherence to the protocol

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Adolescents and Young Adults (12-21)
Adolescents and Young Adults who plan to start GLP-1RA treatment for weight management.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in the frequency of Objective Binge Episodes
Time Frame: 6 months
Change in the frequency of OBEs over the past 28 days from baseline to 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) Binge-Eating Module
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Frequency of LOC Episodes
Time Frame: Baseline to 6 months
Change in the frequency of LOC episodes over the past 28 days from baseline to 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by a single-item question (key secondary endpoint)
Baseline to 6 months
Change in Frequency of OBEs
Time Frame: From baseline to 4 months
Change in the frequency of OBEs over the past 28 days from baseline to 4 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the EDE Binge-Eating Module
From baseline to 4 months
Change in Frequency of LOC Episodes
Time Frame: Baseline to 4 months
Change in the frequency of LOC episodes over the past 28 days from baseline to 4 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by a single-item question
Baseline to 4 months
Change in Disordered Eating Symptom Severity
Time Frame: Baseline to 4-6 months
Change in overall disordered eating symptom severity over the past 28 days from baseline to 4 and 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) Global score
Baseline to 4-6 months
Change in Body Esteem
Time Frame: Baseline to Month 4 and 6
Change in body esteem from baseline to 4 and 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA)
Baseline to Month 4 and 6
Change in Food Noise
Time Frame: Baseline to 4 and 6 months
Change in food noise from baseline to 4 and 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the Food Noise Questionnaire (FNQ) Total score
Baseline to 4 and 6 months
Change in Frequency on Purging Behaviors
Time Frame: Baseline to 4 and 6 Months
Change in the frequency of purging behaviors over the past 28 days from baseline to 4 and 6 months following GLP-1RA initiation, as measured by the EDE-Q
Baseline to 4 and 6 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marissa Raymond-Flesch, MD, MPH, University of California, San Francisco

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY00000173

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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