A neuropsychobiological approach to optimize patient selection for GLP-1 based pharmacotherapy for weight management across the binge eating spectrum
Description: GLP1-agonists including semaglutide have emerged as game changing drugs to support weight loss in obesity and are receiving increased attention for their potential role in treating maladaptive food reward behaviors, particularly binge eating (BE). However, how GLP1-agonists impact mechanisms regulating eating behavior and body weight loss is not well understood. Moreover, there is considerable variability in individual sensitivity to these drugs. Combined with the increasing demand for GLP1-based medications, this raises an urgent need for a more personalized treatment approach. Our aim is to improve patient selection for GLP1-based pharmacotherapy by investigating the impact of semaglutide on three distinct, but highly interacting motivational psychobiological processes crucial for changing individual eating behaviors and achieving weight loss in the treatment of obesity across the BE spectrum: i) gut-brain hunger/satiety signaling, ii) reward processing and its dopaminergic neural correlates and iii) emotional state.
Funder: Vlaamse regering
Funding type: grant
Funder scheme: BOF - projects
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2029-09-30
Investigators: Roman Vangoitsenhoven, Nathalie Weltens
Institution: KULeuven
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: C2M/25/041
OpenAlex ID: G558349801