Lay summary
People with obesity respond very differently to weight-loss medications such as GLP-1 therapies, yet the reasons behind this variation are underexplored. In our preliminary work, we used non-invasive brain recordings (EEG) and machine-learning methods to identify distinct brain-based subtypes of obesity in women. These subtypes showed clear differences in eating behaviour, appetite hormones, and brain activity within regions that control hunger, reward, and food enjoyment. Importantly, these same brain regions are known targets of GLP-1 medications.
Building on this foundation, our central hypothesis is that differences in brain activity patterns help explain why some people respond better to GLP-1 therapy than others. In this study, we will test whether these EEG-defined brain subtypes show different brain and appetite responses after receiving GLP-1 compared with placebo. This work aims to move obesity treatment toward a more personalised, brain-informed approach.