Subcutaneous semaglutide beneficial in weight loss management says JAMA

USA: Weekly semaglutide dosages of 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg were linked to weight reduction says a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association. 

The efficacy of semaglutide at the levels used in randomized clinical trials to treat obesity has not been evaluated in a retrospective cohort analysis (i.e., 1.7 and 2.4 mg). In order to investigate the effects of semaglutide medication on weight reduction in people with overweight or obese, Wissam Ghusn and colleagues undertook this study.

The usage of semaglutide for people who were overweight or obese between January 1, 2021, and March 15, 2022, with a follow-up of up to 6 months, was the subject of this cohort research, which was carried out at a referral center for weight management. A total of 408 individuals were given weekly semaglutide subcutaneous injections for at least three months if they had a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above. Patients who had undergone bariatric surgery in the past were receiving additional anti-obesity drugs, or had an active malignant tumor were not allowed to participate. For three to six months, participants received weekly semaglutide subcutaneous injections of 1.7 or 2.4 mg. The percentage of weight loss served as the main endpoint.

The key findings of this study were:

1. 175 individuals from the research were analyzed at 3 months, and 102 patients were analyzed at 6 months.

2. After three months, the average person lost 6.7 kg, which translates to a mean weight loss of 5.9%, and after six months, the average person lost 12.3 kg, which translates to a mean weight loss of 10.9%.

3. 89 of the 102 patients who were monitored at 6 months had lost at least 5% of their body weight, 56 had lost at least 10%, 24 had lost at least 15%, and 8 had lost at least 20%.

4. At 3 and 6 months, patients with type 2 diabetes lost less weight on average than those without the condition: 3.9% vs. 6.3% at 3 months and 7.2% vs. 11.8% at 6 months.

In conclusion, the results of this trial indicate that semaglutide is clinically beneficial for weight loss in adults who are overweight or obese at three and six months. "We demonstrate comparable weight reduction outcomes within the same time period as in RCTs and to further establish semaglutide's efficacy, studies with larger sample numbers and longer follow-up times are required," added the authors.

Reference: 

Ghusn, W., De la Rosa, A., Sacoto, D., Cifuentes, L., Campos, A., Feris, F., Hurtado, M. D., & Acosta, A. (2022). Weight Loss Outcomes Associated With Semaglutide Treatment for Patients With Overweight or Obesity. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 5, Issue 9, p. e2231982). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31982