This session will explore the emerging role of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in obesity treatment. As the obesity epidemic continues its upward trajectory, new therapeutic interventions such as GLP-1RAs are gaining attention for their potential benefits. Our session will provide an overview of the drug's mechanism of action, its efficacy based on recent weight loss studies. Substantial weight loss often parallels negative metabolic consequences. This session will also discuss the complex interplay between changes in body composition and energy expenditure during weight loss, examining current evidence of metabolic adaptation and its impacts on body composition.
Dr. Carla Prado is a Professor and Registered Dietitian at the University of Alberta. She directs the Human Nutrition Research Unit, renowned as one of the top research and training facilities for body composition and energy metabolism assessments worldwide. Dr. Prado is an expert in assessing nutritional status through the precise measurement of body composition and energy metabolism. The focus of her current research program is to investigate the prevalence and health outcomes of abnormal body composition phenotypes in patients with diverse chronic conditions. She is also developing targeted nutrition interventions to optimize body composition and improve health outcomes. Dr. Prado is an Associate Editor of Clinical Nutrition, the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, and Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. She has been recognized in the ‘Canada’s Top 40 under 40’ list, named as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women in Canada: Top 100’, and distinguished as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate (Web of Science).