Beyond Weight Loss: Early Real-World Evidence of Semaglutide in Obesity.

Background

Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease that often proves resistant to lifestyle measures alone. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), are reshaping treatment, yet prospective real-world data remain limited.

Objective

To prospectively assess the effects of once-weekly Semaglutide on weight, body composition, and metabolic health in obesity.

Methods

An exploratory observational study of 37 patients initiating Semaglutide (mean age 31 years; 11 children and adolescents; 22 females) was conducted. All met obesity criteria (baseline BMI 34.7 kg/m2). Anthropometry, bioimpedance body composition, and fasting biochemistry were obtained at baseline and 3 months. Variables were reported as mean ± SD or median (IQR) according to normal/non-normal distribution, whether a parametric test or a Wilcoxon one was used. Parametric or non-parametric paired tests (two-sided α = 0.05) were applied. We also explored tri-ponderal mass index (TMI, kg/m3) and its correlations with metabolic markers.

Results

At 3 months, body weight decreased by a median 8.0 kg (p < 0.001), BMI by 1.6 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). Body fat percentage declined: 43.4% to 42.8% (p = 0.009), with a small reduction in skeletal muscle mass (-0.6 kg; p = 0.035). Fasting glucose improved (p = 0.030) and HOMA-IR fell significantly. HbA1c changes were minimal, consistent with near-normal baseline values. Triglycerides decreased, while total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, liver enzymes, creatinine, uric acid, and 25-OH vitamin D remained stable. Baseline TMI (median 20.13 kg/m3; IQR 3.80) correlated strongly with HOMA-IR (r = 0.766, p < 0.001) and moderately-to-strongly with body fat percentage (r = 0.621, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this real-world cohort, Semaglutide produced rapid, clinically meaningful improvements in weight, adiposity, and insulin resistance within 3 months. Findings suggest that Semaglutide may represent a promising adjunct to lifestyle therapy in obesity management.