Being active when you have low back pain
A practical guide on what to do, how much, and what to expect when movement causes pain.
Download the guideCan a weight-loss medication ease chronic low back pain?
WashU Medicine and the University of Alabama at Birmingham are running a research study to find out. We are looking for adults who live with chronic low back pain and carry extra weight.
Who we are looking for
Could You Be Eligible?
If you meet these five criteria, you may be eligible to participate in the study. We’d love to hear from you.
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01
You are between 18 and 85 years old.
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02
Your body mass index is between 30 and 49.
Roughly 5′4″ and 175–285 lb, or 5′10″ and 210–340 lb. You can check here:
Heightft inWeightlbEnter your height and weight to see your BMI. Nothing is saved or sent.
Your BMI is 33.4. Within range
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03
Your back pain has lasted three months or more.
Pain in the lower back specifically — not pain that mainly comes from somewhere else.
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04
No plans to have bariatric or back surgery in the next 12 months.
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05
You have not used a GLP-1 medication in the last 3 months, and do not plan to.
What taking part means
One year, five visits, one shot a week
You'll give yourself one injection a week at home, using a pen device we show you how to use. The dose starts low and steps up every four weeks. Each month, you’ll be asked to complete a few short questionnaires about your ongoing health and progress using a phone, tablet or computer.
Month 0
First visit
Sign consent, health check, blood draw, receive first 3-month supply.About 2 hours.
Month 3
Check-in
Health check, blood draw, medication refill. Discuss any concerns.About 1–2 hours.
Month 6
Check-in
Same as month 3.About 1–2 hours.
Month 9
Check-in
Health check and medication refill. No blood draw.About 1 hour.
Month 12
Final visit
Final measurements. Study completion.About 2 hours.
Half of participants receive a placebo
A placebo is an injection with no medication in it. Which one you get is decided at random, like a coin flip. There is a 50% chance you'll receive a placebo for the full year. Neither you nor the study team knows which you received until the study ends, which is what keeps the results fair.
Up to $800
Paid across the year
The full amount is for participants who complete the entire study.
To qualify, you need to:
- Every study visit attended
- Every questionnaire completed
- All 12 months finished
There is no cost to you for the study medication or the study visits.
The problem
Back pain disables more people than any other condition on earth
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, costing the U.S. more than diabetes and heart disease combined. However, most common treatments lack solid scientific evidence. We know that extra weight puts immense stress on the spine, driving lasting disc damage and billions in medical costs.
Why this research is being done
GLP-1 medications, such as semaglutide, can help with weight loss and may reduce pain. Studies have shown benefits for knee pain, but we don't yet know if they can help chronic low back pain.
Our early research is highly promising: patients starting GLP-1s reported significantly less pain and better daily functioning in just three months. However, to prove the medication truly works and isn't just a placebo effect, we need this rigorous, double-blind trial to get real answers.
What we hope to learn
Three key questions:
- Does semaglutide relieve back pain?
- Does it improve daily function and quality of life?
- Does relief come from weight loss, reduced inflammation, or both?
Resources
Useful whether or not you join
Free guides for back pain relief. Open to everyone, no participation required.
Spine health
The everyday mechanics — how to sit, how to lift, and a short set of exercises you can do at home without equipment.
Download the guideNutrition Guide
Semaglutide lowers your appetite and slows digestion, so what and how you eat matters. These habits help you feel better, protect muscle, and get the most from treatment.
Download the guideWho is running this
Led by spine and back pain specialists
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Jacob K. Greenberg, MD, MSCI
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, WashU
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Burel R. Goodin, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Professor of Anesthesiology, WashU
WashU Medicine
St. Louis
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham
We’d love to hear from you
A member of the study team will get back to you. You can ask anything you like without committing to anything, and you can leave the study at any point after joining.
If you live in or near St. Louis
Email abdi@wustl.eduIf you live in or near Birmingham
Email UAB@uab.edu