Changes in weight and glycemic control following obesity treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide by discontinuation status

Objective

The objective of this study was to characterize changes in body weight and glycated hemoglobin (in those with prediabetes at baseline) through 12 months by obesity pharmacotherapy discontinuation status.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record data from a large health system in Ohio and Florida to identify adults with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes who initiated injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide between 2021 and 2023. Treatment discontinuation was defined by a >90-day gap between exhaustion of previous supply and next dispense or end of study follow-up (December 2024) and was classified into early discontinuation (i.e., within 3 months of index date) and late discontinuation (i.e., within 3–12 months).

Results

We identified 7881 patients; 6109 received semaglutide, and 1772 received tirzepatide. A total of 80.8% had low maintenance dosages. Mean (SD) percentage weight reduction at 1 year was 8.7% (9.6%); and it was 3.6% (8.1%) with early discontinuation, 6.8% (9.1%) with late discontinuation, and 11.9% (9.2%) with non-discontinuation (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) absolute reduction in percent glycated hemoglobin at 1 year was 0.1 (0.4) with early discontinuation, 0.2 (0.4) with late discontinuation, and 0.4 (0.4) with non-discontinuation (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The average weight reduction in this cohort was lower than that observed in the main phase 3 trials, likely because of higher rates of discontinuation and lower maintenance dosages.