Analysis of the effects of a multidisciplinary technology-enhanced lifestyle change program on weight loss among overweight and obese individuals, with and without the use of semaglutide

Abstract

Introduction: This observational study retrospectively evaluated real world data from adults with overweight and at least one comorbidity and obesity who opted-in on a telemedicine-delivered program for lifestyle change (dietary and exercise recommendations) under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team enhanced with a bioimpedance scale connected to a mobile app, with (n=30) and without reportedly using semaglutide (n=90) (all eligible participants were offered the drug, but adherence was self-selected). Objectives and Method: to compare the difference in weight loss averages between individuals with overweight or obesity, and who used semaglutide or not, based on anonymous data from participants in a lifestyle change program. Results: The characteristics of semaglutide use varied among patients, consisting of weekly injections that lasted on average(SD) 5.3 weeks (3.6), ranging from 0.25mg to a maximum average (SD) of 0.75mg (0.4). Comparing the groups with and without reported semaglutide use, 50% vs 58.9% were women; mean (SD) age 35.3 (6.5) vs 37.4 (11.9) years; mean (SD) weight at start 96.4kg (18.8) vs 87.4kg (15.6); 11 (36.7%) vs 63 patients (70%) overweight, respectively. Since BMI proportions were significantly different between groups, the endpoint analysis was segmented across groups of participants with overweight and obesity. Outcome data were extracted from each patient’s personal bioimpedance scale, with a minimum 150-day interval between first and last weighting date. Primary endpoint was the percentage of weight loss. Statistical tests were performed within 0.01 significance level. Mean (SD) weight loss for participants that reported semaglutide use was 6.3kg (7.2), equivalent to a 6% (7%) reduction, and 4.7kg (4.8), a 5% (5%) decrease for those who reported not taking it. Among those with obesity, average weight loss was 6.6% without semaglutide and 8.2% with it (p = 0,288), whereas among the overweight, it was 4.4% and 2.8% (p = 0,286), respectively. Both groups with and without  reported semaglutide use had significant weight loss, but there were no significant differences between them in terms of initial and final weight, total weight lost, and time to lose 5% and 10% of weight. Conclusion: The results suggest that small doses of semaglutide, a currently trending treatment for weight loss in Brazil, do not have an add-on effect over this lifestyle change program delivered by a multidisciplinary team enhanced with a bioimpedance scale connected to a mobile app.