Online Obesity Clinics Report Consistent Weight Loss With Lower Doses of Semaglutide
Investigators report that patients experience weight loss with a reduced weekly dosage of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Patients utilizing online obesity clinics have similar weight loss as reported in clinical trials with less than half of the medication, according to results that will be published in The Lancet Digital Health. The research was presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2025.1,2
Investigators report that patients experience weight loss with a reduced weekly dosage of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). | Image Credit: kan - stock.adobe.com
“Achieving the same weight loss in day-to-day life as in the tightly controlled conditions of a clinical trial, while also using lower doses of drugs, has many potential benefits, from lower costs and fewer [adverse] effects for patients to ensuring that stocks of the drug go further,” Henrik Gudbergsen, MD, PhD, MPA, chief medical officer of Embla, said in a news release.2
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, showed benefits in weight loss. Obesity contributes to an increase in comorbidities, leading to higher rates of hospitalization. Weight loss services, particularly those led by pharmacists in community settings, can help improve weight loss. Pharmacists can help to educate patients about lifestyle changes when undergoing medical treatment for weight loss.3
“A pharmacist is often the one identifying barriers to the patient's adherence. Maybe it's cost and communicating that this isn't affordable based on this patient's insurance,” Lydia Newsom, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at Mercer University College of Pharmacy, said in an interview.4 “I think pharmacists can identify some of those barriers and then communicate back to the health care provider on what those are, as well as providing the patient counseling.”
According to the current study, the authors stated that “retrospective RWE [real-world evidence] studies on semaglutide for obesity have showed smaller weight losses (8-14%) than RCTs [randomized control trials].” They went on to say the lifestyle interventions with medical treatment determine the effectiveness of the weight loss medications. Investigators aimed to determine the effects of digital weight loss programs that combine intensive behavioral therapy, diet, exercise, and coaching with doses of semaglutide.1
The study investigators used real-world data from Danish adults in an online multidisciplinary weight management program from December 2022 to September 2024. Patients included were motivated for weight loss, completed a medical screening call with a health care professional, qualified for semaglutide treatment, and had at least 1 failed attempt to lose or maintain weight.
The program consisted of lifestyle interventions and personalized dosages of semaglutide for 3-week, 3-month, or 12-month consultations. Semaglutide was taken once weekly as a subcutaneous injection. The primary outcome included percentage change in body weight at week 64. Secondary end points included the proportion of individuals who achieved 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% or more weight loss and the mean weekly semaglutide dose.1
There were a total of 2694 individuals enrolled in the program, and 1580, 712, and 465 patients were still active after 26 weeks, 52 weeks, and 64 weeks, respectively. Among the patients enrolled, 78% were women, and they had a mean age of 46 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 34.3.From enrollment to week 64, there was an estimated mean change in body weight of –16.7%. For weeks 26 and 52, the mean change was –12.2% and –16.2%, respectively. Investigators reported that patients below a BMI of 30 had similar weight loss until week 26. The mean weekly semaglutide dose for individuals at week 64 was 1.08 mg/week.1
Investigators concluded, “Clinically significant weight loss was observed across different BMI classes, sex, age-groups and medication doses. These results highlight the effectiveness of a personalized, treat-to-target approach to medical obesity management when combining this with easily accessible IBT [intensive behavioral therapy].”1
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
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