NDSU and Sanford Health Launch Real-World Study Tracking GLP-1 Effects Beyond Weight Loss
Key Insights
NDSU and Sanford Health are launching a study to assess real-world impacts of GLP-1 medications on quality of life, emotional state, and muscle wasting.
The study will follow participants at treatment start, three months, and six months, with enrollment expected to open in late July.
Researchers note early literature hints GLP-1s may be protective against substance use issues, unlike bariatric surgery where 1 in 5 patients develop such problems.
North Dakota State University and Sanford Health are partnering on a new observational study designed to capture the real-world effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on patients' overall health, moving beyond the simple metric of weight loss to examine quality of life, emotional well-being, and muscle wasting.
The study comes as use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy has surged nationwide, with an estimated 1 in 8 Americans now taking one of the drugs for diabetes or obesity (search) management.
"We are casting a bit of a broad net in this study," said Scott Engel, vice president of biobehavioral research at Sanford Research in Fargo. "Obviously with GLP-1s we are interested in weight and body composition, but it's broader than that. We are interested in quality of life, emotional state, muscle wasting."
Study Design and Enrollment
Participants will enter the study around the time they begin a GLP-1 medication and will be followed across three sites: Sanford Sioux Falls, Sanford Fargo, and a local pharmacy operated by NDSU pharmacy students. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, then repeated at three months and six months of treatment.
Enrollment is expected to open in late July. The research team hopes early results will help secure additional grant funding and support expansion into larger projects aimed at improving care for patients across the region.
The Evolving GLP-1 Landscape
Kristine Steffen, associate dean for research and faculty development at NDSU, noted that cost barriers have shifted significantly since the drugs first gained obesity (search) indications. "When they first came out and developed an indication for obesity they were approximately $1,600 a month," Steffen said. "Now we're seeing programs like Medicare being able to pick up the cost and other programs allowing these to become more affordable for more people."
Engel acknowledged the transformative potential of the drug class while emphasizing the need for more evidence. "There's no silver bullet that's a perfect fix for anything. I think this is as close as we've come," he said. "They are new enough and we don't know enough about long-term outcome and complications to speak in a super informed way, but we are learning more over time."
Substance Use: A Contrast with Bariatric Surgery
Engel and Steffen have long studied bariatric surgery, which has historically been considered the most effective weight-loss intervention. Their previous research found that approximately 1 in 5 patients develop issues with alcohol or other substances after surgery.
Early signals in the GLP-1 literature suggest a different pattern. "With these drugs so far, what we're seeing so far hints at — in the literature — they actually may be protective," Steffen said. "We don't know the full story on that yet, nor do we know any of the mechanisms through which they may be protective if they end up being long term."
Regional Context
Roughly 37% of people in North Dakota and South Dakota meet the criteria for obesity (search), according to the researchers. They advise anyone considering a weight-loss drug to consult with their physician about whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks.