Obesity affects more than 40% of U.S. adults and raises risk for diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Treatment has historically centered on lifestyle changes and bariatric surgery, but new medications — especially GLP-1 receptor agonists — now produce weight loss comparable to surgery in many people.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing newer GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide and retatrutide, oral versions of these injections, combinations that target multiple hormone pathways, and drugs aimed at muscle preservation during weight loss. Researchers are also studying why some people regain weight after stopping medication and whether treating obesity early prevents complications decades later.
Multi-receptor agonists
Drugs targeting GLP-1 plus GIP or glucagon receptors produce more weight loss than single-hormone drugs. Tirzepatide is FDA-approved, and triple agonists are now in late-stage trials.
Oral GLP-1 drugs
Pills that deliver GLP-1 effects without injections are in development. If successful, they could expand access and make long-term treatment easier for many people.
Muscle-sparing approaches
Rapid weight loss often includes muscle loss. Trials are testing drugs and exercise programs to preserve muscle strength while fat decreases.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on BMI threshold, presence of weight-related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and prior weight loss attempts.
What types of trials are currently open
- Weight loss trials — Testing new medications, usually injections or pills, to see how much weight people lose over 6 to 18 months compared to placebo or older drugs.
- Cardiovascular outcome trials — Following people with obesity and heart disease risk for years to see if weight loss drugs prevent heart attacks and strokes.
- Diabetes prevention trials — Testing whether treating obesity in people with prediabetes delays or prevents type 2 diabetes.
- Combination therapy trials — Testing weight loss drugs together with other medications or with behavioral programs to increase effectiveness.
- Long-term maintenance trials — Studying how to keep weight off after initial loss and what happens when people stop medication.
Recently added Obesity trials
Comparison of Hormonal Response to a Mixed-Meal Tolerance Test After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy With Duodenojejunal Bypass in Patients With Super Morbid Obesity: A Prospective Single-Center Non-Inferiority Randomized Clinical Trial
Obesity is a major global health problem. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment, leading to substantial weight loss and improvement in obesity-related comorbidities. The most commonly performed procedures are Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). LRYGB is typically selected for patients with a BMI exceeding 50 kg/m2. Recently, LSG with duodenojejunal bypass (LSG-DJB) has been introduced. To date, no randomized controlled trial has compared LRYGB and LSG-DJB in patients with super morbid obesity, particularly regarding postoperative hormonal responses. This study aims to address this gap. If LSG-DJB results in a lower incidence of post-bariatric hypoglycemia than LRYGB, it would support its clinical benefit. Evaluation of GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, and insulin responses will clarify mechanisms underlying weight loss and postprandial glycemic changes.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Obese Women With Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
This single-center, prospective, two-stage clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety, preliminary efficacy, and reproductive outcomes of oral Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) freeze-dried capsules in overweight and obese patients with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) undergoing Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer (FET).The study is implemented in two sequential phases: Phase Ⅰ (Pilot Exploration): A prospective, open-label, single-arm exploratory study in an initial evaluable cohort ($n=11$) to evaluate preliminary safety, dynamic gut microbiota colonization, endocrine/metabolic parameters, and pregnancy outcomes following FET. Phase Ⅱ (Confirmatory RCT): A prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to validate the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of oral FMT capsules compared with control interventions, based on findings established in Phase Ⅰ.
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