Real-World Weight Loss With Semaglutide, Tirzepatide Less Than That Seen in Clinical Trials

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 12, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- For patients with obesity initiating pharmacotherapy with semaglutide or tirzepatide, weight loss at one year is 8.7 percent on average, which is lower than the percentages reported from clinical trials, according to a study published online June 10 in Obesity.

Hamlet Gasoyan, Ph.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health record data to identify adults with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes who initiated injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide between 2021 and 2023. The authors sought to characterize changes in body weight and glycated hemoglobin through 12 months by pharmacotherapy discontinuation status. Treatment discontinuation was classified into early discontinuation and late discontinuation (within three months of index date and within three to 12 months).

The study included 7,881 patients: 6,109 and 1,772 received semaglutide and tirzepatide, respectively; 80.8 percent had low maintenance dosages. The researchers found that at one year, the mean percentage weight reduction was 8.7 percent, and it was 3.6, 6.8, and 11.9 percent with early discontinuation, late discontinuation, and nondiscontinuation, respectively. At one year, the mean absolute reduction in percent glycated hemoglobin was 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 with early discontinuation, late discontinuation, and nondiscontinuation, respectively.

"Our study shows that patients treated for obesity with semaglutide or tirzepatide lost less weight on average in a regular clinical setting compared to what is observed in randomized clinical trials," Gasoyan said in a statement. "According to our data, this could be explained by higher rates of discontinuation and lower maintenance dosages used in clinical practice, compared to randomized clinical trial settings."

Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry; one author received fees from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-06-13 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords