Which factors affect the success of popular prescription weight loss drugs in individuals?

A study in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism has identified certain characteristics that might influence people’s weight loss after taking prescription drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide (sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy).

After analyzing data on 679 patients with overweight or obesity who initiated GLP-1RAs between November 2022 and October 2024, investigators found that longer duration of GLP-1RA treatment, using semaglutide, not having diabetes, and having a higher percentage of body fat were associated with better weight reduction over 12 months. Higher metabolic rate, skeletal muscle mass, muscle mass of the abdomen and limbs, and serum creatinine were also associated with better probabilities of successful weight loss.

“These findings may provide novel insights into the weight fluctuations after GLP-1RA treatment in the real-world setting, thereby advancing the development of individualized strategies with GLP-1RA therapy for patients with overweight or obesity,” said co–corresponding author Linong Ji, MD, of Peking University People’s Hospital, in Beijing

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dom.16552

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism is the only interdisciplinary journal for high-quality research and reviews in the areas of diabetes, obesity and metabolism. We focus on clinical and experimental pharmacology and therapeutics in any aspect of metabolic and endocrine disease, either in humans or animal and cellular systems. We also welcome manuscripts reporting on clinical data relating to novel devices, apps, glucose sensors and insulin pumps used to improve glycaemic control.

About Wiley      
Wiley is one of the world’s largest publishers and a trusted leader in research and learning. Our industry-leading content, services, platforms, and knowledge networks are tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners, including researchers, students, instructors, professionals, institutions, and corporations. We empower knowledge-seekers to transform today’s biggest obstacles into tomorrow’s brightest opportunities. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.