New Analysis Reveals Low Long-Term Adherence to GLP-1 Agonist Drugs for Weight Loss
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Researchers at Prime Therapeutics/Magellan RX Management have found that 85 percent of individuals who began taking GLP-1 agonist drugs for weight loss had discontinued their use after two years. This builds on a 2023 study that reported 71 percent of users had stopped after just one year, showing a significant decline in adherence over time.
"Prime/MRx has been at the forefront of GLP-1 insights since we released our year-one research, and though we continue to see declines in persistence and adherence, we are committed to providing clients with actionable data and insights that can steer positive health outcomes for individuals," said David Lassen, PharmD, chief clinical officer at Prime/MRx. "GLP-1s are unlikely to deliver therapeutic value when so many individuals stop treatment after two years, but the findings also illustrate the need for obesity care management programs to improve adherence."
The recent research also found that while persistence among the 45 percent of the population using weekly-dosed semaglutide (Ozempic® and Wegovy®) was somewhat better, only 1 in 4 of those who started semaglutide treatment for obesity remained on GLP-1 therapy at the two-year mark. This represents a 17 percentage point decrease in persistence from one year ago.
Additionally, the study revealed that 26 percent of individuals switched GLP-1 drugs during therapy at two years, up from 11 percent at one year. Notably, 81 percent of the study participants identified as women.
"A significant number of individuals in this study switched GLP-1 drugs, and we will continue to assess the cause and monitor the impact of switching products over time," said Lassen.
The fitness industry has also been entering the obesity management space, with brands like Equinox and MIORA by Life Time creating specific programs. Given what we know about adherence, fitness centers could be valuable partners in providing the knowledge and habits needed for a healthy lifestyle change and coaching clients through it.
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