June 11 (Reuters) – People using popular weight-loss drugs may not experience the same dramatic results seen in clinical trials, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 8,000 patients who were prescribed injectable medications like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic or Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro. They found that, in real-world use, patients lost less weight than participants in tightly controlled clinical trials. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Obesity.
The study showed that many patients in real life were prescribed lower maintenance doses and were more likely to stop treatment early. These factors likely contributed to the smaller weight losses, researchers said.
The average patient in the study had severe obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) over 39. Patients started treatment between 2021 and 2023. By the end of 2024, 20% had stopped the medication within three months, and 32% had quit between three and twelve months.
Among those who stopped early, the average weight loss after one year was 3.6%. Those who stopped between three and twelve months lost 6.8%. Patients who remained on the medication lost an average of 12% of their body weight.
By contrast, clinical trials showed average weight loss of 15% to 20%.
The study also noted that over 80% of real-world patients were on lower doses — 1 mg or less of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) or 7.5 mg or less of tirzepatide (used in Zepbound and Mounjaro).
However, those who stayed on treatment and took higher doses lost 13.7% of their body weight with semaglutide and 18.0% with tirzepatide — results close to those seen in recent clinical trials comparing the two drugs directly.
About 17% of study participants had pre-diabetes. Among these patients, 33% who stopped treatment early returned to normal blood sugar levels, compared to 41% who stopped later, and nearly 68% who continued the medications.
“These drugs were originally developed for type 2 diabetes, and preventing diabetes is crucial since it’s a common complication of obesity,” said lead researcher Hamlet Gasoyan of the Cleveland Clinic. “Our study shows that stopping treatment early affects both weight loss and blood sugar control.”
Patients reported several reasons for stopping the medications. These included high costs, insurance coverage issues, side effects, and drug shortages.
At-Home HPV Testing May Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Among Underserved Groups
At-home testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) may boost cervical cancer screening rates, especially among underserved women, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study involved nearly 2,500 patients at a safety-net clinic. Women who received HPV self-testing kits in the mail had screening rates between 41% and 47%. By comparison, only 17% of women who received just a phone reminder to schedule a clinic visit were screened.
The kits allow women to collect their own vaginal swab samples at home, avoiding the need for a pelvic exam. The samples are tested for high-risk HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer. Women with positive results are referred for further testing.
Most participants in the study were from racial and ethnic minority groups, and many were uninsured or relied on public insurance. Cervical cancer screening rates are typically lower in these populations, but at-home testing could help bridge the gap, researchers said.
“Too many women—especially those without insurance, living in rural areas, or from marginalized communities—aren’t getting screened,” said study leader Jane Montealegre of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Self-collection testing could help expand access and reduce cervical cancer in the U.S.”
In May, the Teal Wand by Teal Health became the first at-home cervical cancer screening test approved for use in the U.S.
