Real-world data show weekly semaglutide effective for weight loss at 3, 6 months
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In real-world data from adults with overweight or obesity, weekly semaglutide therapy of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg was effective at 3 and 6 months for weight loss amounts similar to those observed in clinical trials, according to researchers.
However, those with type 2 diabetes lost a smaller percentage of body weight compared with those without diabetes, researchers reported in the study published in JAMA Network Open.
“The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) trials have shown the efficacy of semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. In large randomized controlled trials, patients receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg lost a mean of 6% of their weight by week 12 and 12% of their weight by week 28,” Wissam Ghusn, MD, postdoctoral research fellow from the division of gastroenterology and hepatology of the Precision Medicine for Obesity Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues wrote. “To our knowledge, no retrospective studies have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of semaglutide at the doses used to treat obesity (ie, 1.7 and 2.4 mg).”
Researchers conducted a cohort study at a referral center for weight management and included 175 patients (mean age, 49.3 years; 75.4% women; 88% white; mean BMI, 41.3 kg/m2) with overweight (n = 5) or obesity with data on semaglutide (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) use collected between January 2021 and March 2022. All patients were followed for up to 6 months. Patients were prescribed weekly semaglutide subcutaneous injections of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg for 3 to 6 months.
The primary outcome was the percentage of weight loss. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients who achieved 5% or more, 10% or more, 15% or more and 20% or more weight loss at 3 and 6 months and the percentage of weight loss for those with or without type 2 diabetes.
At 3 months, mean weight loss was 6.7 kg, which was equivalent to a mean weight loss of 5.9% (P < .001). At 6 months, researchers observed a mean weight loss of 12.3 kg, or 10.9% (P < .001).
Only 102 patients were followed up to 6 months. Of these, 87.3% achieved weight loss of 5% or more, 54.9% had weight loss of 10% or more, 23.5% had 15% or more and 7.8% had 20% or more.
Adults with type 2 diabetes experienced a lower mean weight-loss percentage at both 3 (3.9% vs. 6.3%; P = .001) and 6 months (7.2% vs. 11.8%; P = .005) compared with participants without diabetes.
“Although our study lacked the stringent and closely controlled nature of randomized controlled trials, we report similar weight-loss results within the same time period as in randomized controlled trials,” the researchers wrote. “Studies with greater sample sizes and longer periods of follow-up are further needed to support the effectiveness of semaglutide.”
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