Hormonal
Anti-obesity medication (AOM) administered in primary care settings produces approximately double the weight loss (-2.94 kg) compared to non-pharmacologic interventions, but efficacy attenuates over time at a rate of 0.44 kg per six months.
If you are seeking weight loss in primary care, expect that adding medication to lifestyle changes will roughly double your weight loss compared to lifestyle changes alone. However, be prepared for this to be a long-term commitment; stopping the medication often leads to regaining the weight because your body fights to maintain the lower weight. Consistency and long-term use are key to maintaining results.
Interventions that included a medication component (alone or as part of a multipronged intervention) achieved a greater weight reduction by -2.94 kg (p<0.0001)... efficacy of interventions with drug components attenuated at a rate of 0.44 kg/6months, 95%CI (0.34-0.53 kg/6 months, p-value <0.001).
Why this rating
Meta-analysis of 7 RCTs, but with substantial heterogeneity (I2=86%) and evidence of publication bias.
Source
A closer look at weight loss interventions in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Leigh Perreault et al. · medRxiv · 2022
DOI 10.1101/2022.08.03.22278290
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →