‘This Is My Decision’: A Qualitative Study of Individuals' Perspectives on Use of Semaglutide for Weight Loss

IF 2.7 4区医学 Q2 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology Pub Date : 2025-06-16 DOI:10.1111/bcpt.70069

Trine Graabæk, Nini Thi Nguyen, Malene Svoldgaard Sørensen, Carina Lundby

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Individuals using semaglutide for weight loss constitute a new, sizeable patient group, yet limited qualitative research of this group exists. Therefore, we explored their perspectives, including motivation for treatment, attitudes towards the medication and experiences with its use. Semistructured interviews with seven individuals (five women, average age 50 years, average treatment duration 9 months) were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using systematic text condensation. We identified three themes: ‘I have absolutely run out of options’, ‘I am lucky to have a cooperative doctor’ and ‘It's the feeling of being normal’. Using semaglutide for weight loss was considered a life-changing event, as most respondents were concerned about declining physical health due to overweight. Most showed strong autonomy in managing their treatment, including delaying dose increases, reducing the dose or taking individual doses by ‘counting clicks’. Our data suggest a need for more support from healthcare professionals to guide individuals using semaglutide for weight loss, particularly in dosing, monitoring and managing side effects, with an emphasis on individualized and holistic care. Further research on individuals' perspectives related to weight loss and semaglutide use is needed to maintain and improve individuals' quality of life.

Summary

More people are using semaglutide to lose weight, but we still know little about their experiences.
To learn more, we interviewed seven users.
Many saw the treatment as life-changing, having struggled with overweight and concerns about their health.
It was important to them to manage the dose themselves.
Some delayed increasing the dose or took less than recommended by ‘counting clicks’.
Our findings show that people using semaglutide for weight loss need more support from healthcare professionals—especially with dosing, side effects and personal guidance.
More research is needed to better support these users and improve their quality of life.

查看原文本刊更多论文

“这是我的决定”：个体对使用西马鲁肽减肥的看法的定性研究

使用西马鲁肽减肥的个体构成了一个新的、相当大的患者群体，但对这一群体的定性研究有限。因此，我们探讨了他们的观点，包括治疗的动机，对药物的态度和使用经验。对7名患者（5名女性，平均年龄50岁，平均治疗时间9个月）进行半结构化访谈，录音，逐字转录，并使用系统文本浓缩法进行分析。我们确定了三个主题：“我已经没有选择了”，“我很幸运有一个合作的医生”和“这是正常的感觉”。使用西马鲁肽减肥被认为是一个改变生活的事件，因为大多数受访者担心由于超重而导致身体健康状况下降。大多数人在管理治疗方面表现出很强的自主权，包括延迟剂量增加、减少剂量或通过“计数点击”来单独服用剂量。我们的数据表明，需要医疗保健专业人员提供更多的支持，以指导使用西马鲁肽减肥的个人，特别是在剂量、监测和管理副作用方面，重点是个性化和整体护理。需要进一步研究个体对减肥和使用西马鲁肽的看法，以维持和改善个体的生活质量。越来越多的人使用西马鲁肽来减肥，但我们对他们的经历知之甚少。为了了解更多，我们采访了7位用户。许多人认为这种治疗改变了他们的生活，他们一直在与超重作斗争，担心自己的健康。对他们来说，自己控制剂量很重要。有些人推迟了增加剂量的时间，或者通过“计数点击”少于建议的剂量。我们的研究结果表明，使用西马鲁肽减肥的人需要医疗保健专业人员的更多支持——特别是在剂量、副作用和个人指导方面。需要更多的研究来更好地支持这些用户并提高他们的生活质量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

6.50%

发文量

126

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Basic & Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology is an independent journal, publishing original scientific research in all fields of toxicology, basic and clinical pharmacology. This includes experimental animal pharmacology and toxicology and molecular (-genetic), biochemical and cellular pharmacology and toxicology. It also includes all aspects of clinical pharmacology: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic drug monitoring, drug/drug interactions, pharmacogenetics/-genomics, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoeconomics, randomized controlled clinical trials and rational pharmacotherapy. For all compounds used in the studies, the chemical constitution and composition should be known, also for natural compounds.