Real-World Study Finds Injectable Obesity Medications Yield Less Weight Loss Than Expected
A Cleveland Clinic study shows that in real-world settings, injectable obesity medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide often produce smaller weight loss due to treatment discontinuation and lower dosages used outside clinical trials.
Recent research from Cleveland Clinic reveals that injectable GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, approved for obesity management, tend to produce less weight loss in everyday clinical settings compared to controlled clinical trials. The study highlights that many patients discontinue treatment prematurely or use lower maintenance dosages, which adversely impacts outcomes, including blood sugar control in prediabetic individuals.
The study, published in the Obesity Journal, involved 7,881 adult patients with severe obesity and included a subset with pre-diabetes. Participants started treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide between 2021 and 2023, but more than 20% discontinued early, and 32% discontinued later, often at lower dosages. On average, patients who ceased treatment early lost only about 3.6% of their body weight after a year, while those who continued late or persisted with higher doses achieved greater weight reductions, with the latter group losing approximately 11.9% to 18% of their body weight.
The study also found that patients who maintained treatment on higher doses experienced more significant weight loss and better blood sugar regulation. Factors linked to achieving a 10% or greater weight loss included continuous medication use, higher doses, female gender, and the use of tirzepatide over semaglutide.
Treatment discontinuation was primarily due to medication costs, insurance issues, side effects, and shortages. Despite weight loss differences, patients who stopped medication maintained relatively stable weight trajectories. The findings suggest that supporting patients in continued treatment and optimizing dosage could lead to better health outcomes.
This research underscores the importance of adherence and dosage in the real-world effectiveness of obesity medications, emphasizing the need for strategies to improve patient retention and compliance for optimal results.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-medications-obesity-smaller-weight-loss.html
Stay Updated with Mia's Feed
Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Articles
Majority of U.S. Adults Open to At-Home COVID-19 Testing, Study Finds
A new study shows that 70% of U.S. adults are willing to perform at-home COVID-19 tests, highlighting the importance of promoting self-testing to control the virus spread.
Oral Semaglutide 25 mg Shows Promise for Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults, Trial Finds
A groundbreaking trial reveals that oral semaglutide at 25 mg daily significantly boosts weight loss and improves cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese adults, offering a promising non-injectable treatment option.
Innovative Use of CAR T-Cell Therapy Restores Movement in Patients with Rare Autoimmune Neuropathy
Researchers have successfully employed CAR T-cell therapy to treat two patients with severe autoimmune neuropathy, leading to significant motor improvement and demonstrating a promising new approach for autoimmune nervous system diseases.
AI-Driven Design Boosts Efficacy of Bi-specific CAR T Cells in Cancer Therapy
A pioneering computational method developed by St. Jude researchers significantly improves the design and efficacy of bi-specific CAR T cells, offering new hope for tackling heterogeneous and resistant tumors. This approach accelerates development, enhances tumor targeting, and could transform cancer immunotherapy strategies.