Weight Loss of Semaglutide Treatment for Patients With Overweight or Obesity: A Retrospective Observational Study in China

Abstract Background Real-world studies on semaglutide's effect on weight loss had been largely focused on patient with type 2 diabetes, this study aim to assess the effectiveness of semaglutide in patients with overweight or obesity. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective observational study and collected data on the use of semaglutide for patients with overweight or obesity with a follow-up of up to 9 months. Results The study included 611 patients (390 male [63.8%]; mean [SD] age, 41.3 [12.1] years; mean [SD] body weight, 88.9 [16.0]; mean [SD] BMI, 30.9 [4.2]) in the analysis at 3 months, 337 patients at 6months and 105 patients at 9 months. After 3, 6, and 9 months, the mean (SD) weight loss was 4.0 (3.7), 5.1 (4.5), and 6.3 (5.4) kg, respectively, equivalent to 4.5% (4.7%), 5.6% (4.7%), and 7.0% (5.8%), respectively (P < 0.001 for all). Patients with type 2 diabetes had a lower mean (SD) percentage weight loss at 3, 6, and 9 months compared with those without type 2 diabetes: 3.7% (3.1%) vs 5.4% (4.7%) at 3 months (P＜0.05), 5.0% (3.9%) vs 7.1% (4.4%) at 6 months (P＜0.05), and 5.6% (4.7%) vs 8.0% (5.4%) at 9 months (P＜0.05). Conclusions The results of this cohort study suggest that semaglutide was associated with weight loss similar to that seen in randomized clinical trials.