Weight loss response in patients with obesity treated with injectable semaglutide in a real-world setting

Abstract

Background: Obesity is defined as excess adipose tissue causing a deterioration in health, but diagnosing the causes and deciding on treatment can be challenging. Several randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) have demonstrated the effectiveness of semaglutide as a treatment for obesity. This study investigated the clinical response to semaglutide as a weight loss treatment in a real-world setting.

Methods: This observational study investigated the response to injectable semaglutide in the first 3 months during the dose titration phase up to 1 mg. Weight loss after 6 months was also evaluated. The data were collected from the electronic medical records (EMR) from outpatient clinics between July 2021 to March 2023. All participants were older than 18 years, with no history of bariatric surgery within 1 year, and had a least one prescription of injectable semaglutide. The primary outcome was weight change at 3 months. Weight loss in those patients who attended at 6 months was a secondary outcome.

Results: A total of 350 patients were included in the study. The vast majority (80.3%) were female. 287 patients (82%) completed 3 months on injectable semaglutide and lost 6.6 ± 3.8% bodyweight. 224 patients (64%) completed 6 months on semaglutide and lost 12 ± 6.1% bodyweight. 188 (65.5%) of patients who completed 3-month follow-up lost ≥5% weight, 39 (13.5%) patients lost ≥10% weight, and 7 (2.4%) patients lost ≥15% weight. While for those patients who completed the 2nd visit (n = 224), 201 (89.7%) lost ≥5% weight, 135 (60.3%) lost ≥10% weight, and 54 (24.1%) lost ≥ 15% body weight.

Conclusion: Injectable semaglutide in a real-world setting resulted in similar weight loss and had a similar side effect profile as was observed in randomized controlled trials.

Keywords: GLP-1; Obesity; Real-world; Semaglutide; Weight management.