Binge Eating Disorder Associated With ObesityBETTER-GLP1NCT07042672
Behavioral Therapy and GLP-1 Analogue Effects on Binge Eating, Weight, and Coping in Obesity
An observational study of Binge Eating Disorder Associated With Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder, run by Haukeland University Hospital at 1 site in Norway.
Trial summary
This study is a clinical, longitudinal, non-randomized, prospective observational study that seeks to compare the treatment effects and safety of using GLP-1 analogues versus not using appetite suppressants during a lifestyle treatment program that includes individual consultations every fourth month and 10 weeks of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Binge Eating Disorder Associated With Obesity, Binge Eating Disorder, Eating Disorder Binge
- What is being tested?
- GLP-1 and CBTe Group Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNorway
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2025to 31 Dec 2028
- Phase
- Observational
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients with obesity and binge eating disorder. The study will enroll patients with concomitant severe obesity and BED who are referred to the Obesity clinic at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. All potentially eligible participants will be routinely screened for BED and EDE interview (gold standard) will be used to formally diagnose BED according to the DSM-5.
Who may be able to join
- Severe obesity defined as BMI >40 kg/m2 or 35 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities: coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cerebral stroke, venous thromboembolism, obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis and polecystic ovary syndrome
- Age between 18 to 65 years
- Diagnosis of BED according to DSM-5 criteria
- Willingness to participate and provide informed consent
- Able to understand and communicate in Norwegian
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or lactating women, as well as women planning pregnancy within one year.
- Current use medications with major effects on appetite regulation or weight (including, but not limited to systemic glucocorticoids and antipsychotic medication)
- Renal failure with estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1,73m2
- Liver failure with either ASAT and/or ALAT 5 times upper reference limit, or ALP and/or GT more than 3 times upper reference limit, or clinical signs of liver decompensation
- Active cancer
- Previous medullary thyroid cancer
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- Previous pancreatitis
- Active substance abuse (but previous drug abuse accepted)
- Medical or psychological treatment within the specialized health care service for eating disorders within the last 6 months.
- Ongoing severe psychiatric disease that makes them unable to follow the lifestyle treatment program
- Any illness or prior treatment that in the opinion of the investigator would jeopardize the patient's participation in the study or impact integrity and/or quality of study data.
- Previous bariatric surgery
- Use of appetite suppressing drugs (e.g., GLP-1 analogues and/or naltrexone/bupropion) within the last 6 months
- Participation in another clinical study involving an investigational medicinal product within 1 month prior to study inclusion
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Norway1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Haukeland University Hospital
Bergen, Vestland, 5021
Malin M Kleppe, MSc, 99357771 ext. +47, malin.mandelid.kleppe@helse-bergen.no
Paal Methlie, MD, PhD, 97677930 ext. 47, paal.methlie@uib.no
About this study
Official title: Behavioral Therapy With and Without GLP-1 Analogue in Patients With Morbid Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder: A Clinical Prospective Observational Study on Body Weight, Binge Eating Behavior, and Harmful Coping Strategies
This study is a clinical, longitudinal, non-randomized, prospective observational study that seeks to compare the treatment effects and safety of using GLP-1 analogues versus not using appetite suppressants during a lifestyle treatment program that includes individual consultations every fourth month and 10 weeks of CBT-E group therapy in patients with both obesity and BED.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact on BED symptomatology, while the secondary objectives include examining the potential adoption of alternative harmful coping mechanisms. Additionally, the study will assess psychological well-being and weight changes and their consequent influence on obesity-associated comorbid conditions.
Read more
Adult patients with coexisting obesity and BED presenting at the Obesity clinic at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, will be included Patients will be divided into two groups: Group-GLP1 (n = 40), who will use GLP-1 analogues, and Group-NoMED (n = 40), who will not use appetite suppressants. Both groups will otherwise follow the routine standardized patient care pathway with follow-up controls every four months and participation in CBT group therapy sessions.
Changes in symptoms of BED, alternative harmful coping strategies and mental health will be recorded at baseline and 12 months using patient-reported questionnaires, as well as anthropometric and biochemical data.
- Conditions
- Binge Eating Disorder Associated With Obesity, Binge Eating Disorder, Eating Disorder Binge, Eating Disorders, GLP-1, CBT
- Being tested
- GLP-1, CBTe Group Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Binge-Eating Disorder, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Obesity, Overweight
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GLP-1Drug
Subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed for weight management according to routine clinical practice. Acceptable agents include liraglutide (up-titrated to ≤ 3.0 mg daily), semaglutide (≤ 2.4 mg weekly), or tirzepatide (≤ 15 mg weekly). Dose escalation and maintenance follow approved product labels and treating-physician judgment. Planned treatment duration: 12 months or longer.
CBTe Group TherapyBehavioural
Ten weekly 2-hour group sessions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) plus individualized lifestyle consultations every 4 months over a 12-month period. Content targets eating patterns, weight-management behaviors, and emotion-regulation skills. Delivered by trained multidisciplinary staff at the Obesity Centre.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group-GLP1 | Participants receiving standard lifestyle treatment including CBT-E group therapy and individual clinical consultations, in combination with a GLP-1 analogue prescribed by their physician (e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide, or tirzepatide) for weight management. GLP-1 analogue selection, dosage, and duration follow routine clinical practice. Receives: Drug: GLP-1; Behavioral: CBTe Group Therapy | |
| Group-NoMED | Participants receiving standard lifestyle treatment including CBT-E group therapy and individual clinical consultations, but without use of GLP-1 analogues or other appetite-suppressing medications. Receives: Behavioral: CBTe Group Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in EDE-Q Global Score From Baseline to 12 Months
The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q, version 6.0) global score is a validated measure of core eating disorder psychopathology, ranging from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
The EDE-Q comprises 28 items and assesses cognitive and behavioral symptoms over the past 28 days, including four subscales: restraint, eating concern, shape concern, and weight concern.
This outcome measures the mean change in global score from baseline to 12-month follow-up, comparing participants receiving GLP-1 analogue treatment (Group-GLP) versus those not receiving appetite suppressants (Group-NoMED).
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Proportion of Participants With Increase in Composite Harmful Coping Endpoint (CHCE) From Baseline to 12 Months
The Composite Harmful Coping Endpoint (CHCE) captures the emergence of new harmful coping behaviors from baseline to 12-month follow-up. It is defined as a binary outcome, scored as positive if any of the following occur:
- Deliberate self-harm (DSHI score > 0)
- Alcohol misuse (AUDIT >= 8 for men, >= 6 for women)
- Drug misuse (DUDIT > 6 for men, > 2 for women)
Each of the three components is dichotomized using validated clinical thresholds. Participants with no indication at baseline who cross threshold for any of the three domains at 12 months are considered to have developed a new harmful coping strategy (CHCE = 1). The outcome will compare the proportion of participants with CHCE = 1 between Group-GLP and Group-NoMED.
DSHI; Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (range 0-17, higher is worse), AUDIT; Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (range 0-40, higher is worse), DUDIT; Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (range 0-44, higher is worse)
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Jun 2025
- Study start1 Jul 2025
- Primary completion5 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Binge Eating Disorder Associated With ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Haukeland University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Bergen
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07042672
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-854686
- Other IDs
- 2025
- Acronym
- BETTER-GLP1
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 3 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No