Effect of Exenatide (A Weight Loss Drug) on fMRI Response to Food-Cues in Lean and Obese

Claudia Huerta¹, Roy Eldor¹, Muhammad Abdul-Ghani¹, Ralph DeFronzo¹, Timothy O. Duong²

In this study, we propose to investigate the neural response to visual food cues utilizing fMRI in lean and obese subjects pre and post intravenously infusion of Exenatide, a synthetic version of the gut peptide GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), it is known to increase satiety and promotes weight loss. Lean showed an increased response in motivation, cognitive control and decision-making components of food intake regulation after Exenatide, whereas obese subjects showed increased neural response following Exenatide infusion only in a few structures classified in the motivation component.