Study Finds Obesity Injections Lose Effectiveness Real World Weight Loss Drops to 8.7 Percent

A new study published in the Obesity Journal reveals that anti-obesity injections like semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) deliver smaller weight loss in real-world settings compared to clinical trials.

Researchers found that real-world users lost less weight due to higher discontinuation rates and lower maintenance dosages. Among 7,881 patients with an average BMI of over 39, weight loss across a year averaged 8.7%, significantly lower than results from phase 3 trials.

Patients who discontinued injections within three months experienced only 3.6% weight loss, compared to 6.8% for those stopping between 3-12 months. In contrast, those who completed a year of treatment achieved 11.9% weight loss.

For patients on high-maintenance doses, results were more promising, with semaglutide users losing 13.7% body weight and tirzepatide users losing 18%.

The study also highlighted that 33% of pre-diabetic patients who stopped treatment early returned to normal blood sugar levels, compared to 41% for late discontinuers and 67.9% for those who completed the full course.

Costs, side effects, and medication shortages were cited as the main reasons for early discontinuation. Researchers emphasized that better adherence to treatment and access to high-maintenance doses could significantly improve outcomes.