Hadley Johnson

Stabilized GLP-1 analogues, such as semaglutide (Ozempic), have transformed the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders by promoting weight loss and lowering blood glucose levels through activation of GLP-1 receptor–expressing neurocircuits. By early 2025, approximately 4.2 million adults in the United Kingdom, nearly one in ten, reported current or recent use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for weight management, or expressed interest in doing so. Emerging evidence indicates that maternal semaglutide exposure prior to conception can alter fetal hypothalamic gene expression related to appetite regulation. These findings suggest that targeting GLP-1 pathways before and during pregnancy may influence hypothalamic development and long-term metabolic outcomes in offspring. However, there are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments for obesity during pregnancy, and the safety of semaglutide use during gestation remains uncertain. My research therefore examines the effects and safety of maternal semaglutide administration on fetal hypothalamic neurocircuitry and gene expression involved in metabolic regulation.