# Predictors of Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance to Lifestyle Modification Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adolescents with Obesity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2022 · $379,420

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Neurobehavioral characteristics have the potential to predict initial weight loss and weight loss maintenance in
response to various treatment approaches in adolescents with obesity. However, prior research is limited by
heavy reliance on cross-sectional analyses and a focus on immersion-type interventions (e.g., inpatient
treatment), which are not widely available. Identifying neurobehavioral predictors of response to clinically
applicable treatments will stimulate needed progress in the emerging field of precision medicine. Building on a
funded, randomized comparative effectiveness trial (R01-DK123273), the current study will prospectively
examine neurobehavioral predictors of initial weight loss response and weight loss maintenance for
adolescents with obesity participating in intensive lifestyle modification therapy (LMT) or low intensity LMT plus
medical management using the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA), semaglutide. In the
proposed study we will: 1) identify baseline neurobehavioral predictors of weight loss response in adolescents
with obesity undergoing intervention; 2) for participants achieving >5% BMI reduction at 6 months (i.e. initial
responders), identify neurobehavioral predictors of weight loss maintenance at 12; and 3) evaluate differences
in predictors of response between intensive LMT and GLP-1RA therapy. This prospective, observational study
will include 116 adolescents with obesity and will focus on the three main aspects of executive functions -
inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory – as well as reward responsivity using gold-standard
measures. For each domain, a single factor (i.e., score) will be created from factor analysis and these latent
factors will be used as predictors in the statistical models. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to
evaluate neurobehavioral predictors of weight loss response to GLP-1RA therapy in adolescents. Moreover,
we will be one of few who have prospectively evaluated neurobehavioral predictors of treatment response and
weight loss maintenance for adolescents with obesity. Our overarching goal is to move beyond the current
“one-size-fits-all” paradigm and understand how to best match adolescents with obesity to personally effective
treatment, which will maximize clinical outcomes while minimizing exposure to unnecessary risks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10517798
- **Project number:** 1R01DK131029-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy C. Gross
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $379,420
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10517798

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10517798, Predictors of Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance to Lifestyle Modification Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adolescents with Obesity (1R01DK131029-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-03 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10517798. Licensed CC0.

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