JAMA Netw Open

Semaglutide vs. liraglutide: Weight loss differences at one year

September 18, 2024

Weight loss after one year was greater when: 1) semaglutide was used vs. liraglutide; 2) when the treatment indication was obesity vs. T2DM; and 3) when medication coverage was more persistent. Future research should explore why patients discontinue their medication and how to improve long-term adherence.

• For this retrospective cohort study, researchers analyzed EHR data for 3,389 adults (mean age, 50.4) in Ohio and Florida with a BMI of ≥30. Of these, 1,341 patients received semaglutide for T2DM; 1,444 received liraglutide for T2DM; 227 received liraglutide for obesity; and 377 received semaglutide for obesity.
• Patients using semaglutide experienced an average weight loss at one year of -5.1% vs. -2.2% for those on liraglutide. Weight loss was greater when obesity was the treatment indication (-5.9%) vs. T2DM (-3.2%), and with more complete medication coverage: −5.5% for patients with persistent coverage vs. −2.8% with 90 to 275 coverage days and −1.8% with <90 coverage days.
• Factors associated with achieving ≥10% weight loss at year 1 included: use of semaglutide vs. liraglutide; obesity as the treatment indication (vs. T2DM); persistent medication coverage; high dosage; and female sex.

Source:

Gasoyen H, et al. (2024, September 3). JAMA Netw Open. One-Year Weight Reduction With Semaglutide or Liraglutide in Clinical Practice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39269703/