VENTURE (Version 2.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
VENTURE: VariablE activation of Neural paThways involved in appetite regUlation and REward-related brain areas as a mechanism to explain weight loss ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’ with GLP-1 agonist treatment: integration of assessment of appetite with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in obese, type 2 diabetes patients
IRAS ID
189875
Contact name
Daniel Cuthbertson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Obesity is one of the greatest health threats facing the world today and is a major risk factor for diabetes. Some drugs for diabetes e.g. gliclazide and insulin can cause weight gain but newer drugs such as liraglutide reduce blood sugar and can cause weight loss. The purpose of this study is to help us understand why some patients on liraglutide lose a lot of weight and others may not lose as much or even put weight on. We want to find ways to maximize weight loss in all patients.\n\nLiraglutide acts in a number of ways but we are really interested in how it helps patients lose weight by making them feel less hungry. We will be looking at how it reduces appetite, the amount of food eaten and the craving to eat even when full. We think that when people do not respond to treatment one of these components is not responding.\n\nParticipants with Type 2 Diabetes and obesity will be studied before and after 16-weeks of treatment with liraglutide. We have a variety of tools to assess appetite. Before and after a meal (hungry and full) participants will have a brain scan whilst being shown pictures of high calorie, low calorie foods and musical instruments. We will be able to see certain areas of the brain ‘light up’ in response to the pictures. These areas control how hungry we feel and how important food is to us. We think that when patients respond to treatment and lose weight these areas are ‘switched off’ and therefore will not light up as much when shown high calorie food. We expect ‘responders’ to treatment, so people who lose weight on treatment, will feel more full after a meal and have less cravings to eat resulting in reduced food intake.\n
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0578
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion