Lower Doses of GLP-1 Medication Achieve Similar Weight Loss as Higher Doses, Danish Study Shows

Recent research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) highlights that patients participating in an online obesity management program attained weight loss comparable to clinical trial results, despite using less than half the typical dose of the weight-loss medication semaglutide, a type of GLP-1 receptor agonist. The study involved 2,694 individuals in Denmark engaged in the Embla app-based program, which combined dietary advice, exercise guidance, psychological support including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and personalized dosing of semaglutide.

Patients followed a 'treat to target' approach, starting on a low dose of 0.25 mg weekly and gradually increasing only if they continued to lose weight and tolerated the medication well. Most patients remained on lower doses, with an average weekly dose of about 1 mg, and only 28.8% reached doses exceeding this amount. Despite these lower doses, participants experienced an average weight loss of 16.7% (approximately 16.8 kg or 2 stone 9 pounds) after 64 weeks, aligning with the results from controlled clinical trials that used higher doses of semaglutide.

The study's findings suggest that combining lifestyle interventions, psychological support, and personalized medication dosing can lead to significant weight loss similar to clinical trial outcomes, but with less medication. This has implications for reducing treatment costs, minimizing side effects, and improving accessibility.

Furthermore, the research indicated that the effectiveness of lower doses was consistent across various demographics, including different ages, initial weights, and sexes. The majority of side effects reported—such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach aches—were mild and temporary. The study also noted that women tended to experience slightly greater weight loss than men.

While the findings are promising, they are based on self-reported data and lack a control group, which are limitations to consider. Nevertheless, Dr. Henrik Gudbergsen, lead researcher and Chief Medical Officer of Embla, emphasized that personalized dosing combined with lifestyle and psychological support could enable real-world patients to achieve weight loss comparable to clinical trial participants, with lower medication doses, fewer side effects, and potentially lower costs.

For more detailed information, see the full study published in SSRN: [DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5207768].

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-doses-glp-agonist-medication-effective.html