Changes in body weight and composition, metabolic parameters, and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with subcutaneous semaglutide in real-world clinical practice

Among the recent therapeutic options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) play a key role. They act by increasing the concentration of the GLP-1 hormone in a physiological-pharmacological way, thus minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia (1). Furthermore, the current national and international guidelines for T2D care recommend the use of GLP-1 RA as a first-line or second-line (after metformin) therapy, taking in consideration the additional benefits on body weight and cardiorenal risk (2, 3). Since the preclinical phase, different studies documented that administration of exogenous GLP-1 at pharmacological dosages induced weight loss in addition to decrease in blood glucose levels (4). Several studies were conducted on GLP1-RAs in obesity involving patients with and without T2D and confirming that they represent a real new opportunity for chronic weight management (5, 6).

In terms of mechanisms, GLP-1 is involved in the satiety regulation at the level of the central nervous system (CNS). In fact, activation of the GLP-1 receptors reduces the brain response (in the insula, amygdala, putamen and orbitofrontal cortex areas) to food signals in subjects with obesity, with and without T2D, correlating with more or less significant reductions in food intake (7). Evidence suggests that endogenous GLP-1 is involved in the central regulation of nutrition, influencing the central reactivity to the consumption of sweet foods (8). Also, it was demonstrated that liraglutide is able to suppress the mechanisms that are activated in the CNS following visual stimulation with food (9) and that endogenous GLP-1 is responsible for the inducing effect of post-prandial satiety in the CNS in T2D (10). Furthermore, Tsuda et al. showed how the different nutrients are able to stimulate the secretion of endogenous GLP-1; therefore, how to increase the efficacy of endogenous or exogenous GLP-1 following specific diets and how exogenous GLP-1 can influence the food preferences became new key topics for further investigations (9). de Boer et al. investigated whether treatment with exogenous GLP-1 was able to improve the glycemic control of insulin-treated obese patients and whether the eating behaviors influenced the efficacy. Patients in the study showed a significant improvement in glycemic control and a significant reduction in body weight and in the dose of insulin used. The greatest reduction in body weight occurred in patients with a controlled diet, while the least reduction in weight occurred in patients with a “sensory” predominance, i.e. patients who were influenced by organoleptic aspects (10). It remained to be evaluated whether and how a treatment with pharmacological doses of GLP-1 could modify patients’ food preferences over time. In a pre-clinical study on overnourishes rats, treatment with a GLP-1 RA completely eliminated the excess weight and fat depots (11). In another study involving severely obese minipigs treated with liraglutide, body weight decreased during 7 weeks, and increased during the following 7 weeks post-treatment, documenting that the effect on appetite suppression was reversed within 4 days from treatment discontinuation (12).

Recently, a GLP-1 analogue (94% similarity with the native hormone) allowing the weekly administration, i.e. subcutaneous (sc) semaglutide, was introduced to the market for the treatment of T2D and obesity following the large research development SUSTAIN and STEP programs (13–15). SUSTAIN program documented a marked efficacy of the drug on glycemia, weight, and cardiovascular risk with maximum dose of 1 mg once weekly (14); in the STEP program semaglutide at the maximum dose of 2.4 mg once weekly achieved significant and sustained weight loss, together with improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors compared with placebo, and was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1RAs (15). Several real-world studies confirmed effectiveness of semaglutide on HbA1c and obesity parameters (16–22).

Our study aimed to assess clinical outcomes obtained by all T2D patients cared for by our center under routine clinical practice and treated with ow semaglutide in association with the standard nutrition and educational approach applied in our center. Specifically, we assessed real-world weight loss and the associated changes in body composition nutrients intake, and quality of life in addition to the traditional outcomes explored in other studies (metabolic control and cardiovascular risk factors).

This was a single-center, observational, prospective clinical study conducted in the Diabetes and Nutrition Clinic of Ast Fermo Asur Marche (Fermo, Italy). All patients initiating semaglutide in the trimester between December 2021 and February 2022 were included.

Inclusion criteria were: T2D diagnosis, men or women, age ≥18 years, need of therapy intensification based on the physician judgment, and signature of the informed consent.

Exclusion criteria were: intolerance or contraindications to ow semaglutide, previous GLP-1 RA or SGLT2i therapy, concomitant or suspected malignant diseases, pregnancy/breastfeeding, recent (within 3 months of enrolment visit) acute illnesses (except viral illnesses), renal impairment (eGFR<60ml/min), severe liver failure, congestive heart failure (NYHA IV classes), proliferative diabetic retinopathy, presence of cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis or ongoing acute pancreatitis, ketogenic diet.

According to standard care, semaglutide was prescribed at the starting dose of 0.25 mg/week during the first month of therapy, 0.50 mg/week during the second month, and 1.0 mg/week for the following months up to 12 months.

According to the clinical practice of the diabetes clinic, patients received a nutritional intervention based on the following nutrients intake: carbohydrates 45–60%, proteins 10–20%, fats 25–30%, recommended calories intake 25–30 Kcal/Kg (ideal weight).

At baseline (T0), the following patient information was collected: age, gender, T2D duration, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol (TOT-CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHOL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CHOL), triglycerides (mg/dl). Furthermore, a routine Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) was performed (DC-430MA™, TANITA Europe BV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) to measure body composition by exploiting the bioelectrical impedance of the body. Furthermore, evaluation of calories and nutrients intake was performed (using Metadieta Software™, Meteda srl, San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy). The software allows to record dietary habits and, based on the set parameters and a standardized food atlas, automatically calculate basal metabolism, calories and grams of macronutrients.

Finally, the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) and the 36 – items Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered as patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Data on clinical parameters, BIA, and questionnaires were also collected after 6 months (T6) and 12 months (T12) from the ow semaglutide initiation (T0).

DTSQ has been specifically designed to measure satisfaction with diabetes treatment regimens (23). It is composed of eight items, six of which are summed in a single score ranging from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 36 (very satisfied). The remaining two items are treated individually and explore the perceived frequency of hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes, with higher scores indicating a higher frequency. The Italian version of the instrument has been previously translated and validated (24).

The SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) is one of the most widely used measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and consists of 36 items covering eight dimensions: physical functioning, role limitations caused by physical health problems, bodily pain, general health perception, vitality, social functioning, role limitations caused by emotional health problems and mental health (25). These eight domains may be further aggregated into two summary measures: the physical component summary (PCS) measure and the mental component summary (MCS) measure. These aggregated scores are transformed to norm-based scores (mean, 50; SD, 10), with higher scores indicating more favorable physical functioning/psychological well-being. The SF-36 has been used in large-population studies and in many different clinical conditions, showing excellent psychometric properties (26). It has been translated and validated in several languages, including Italian (27).

The primary endpoint was the change in body weight after 6 months. Secondary endpoints were the change after 12 months in body weight, and the changes after 6 and 12 months in body composition assessed through BIA, diet attitudes, clinical parameters (BMI, WC, HbA1c, FPG, blood pressure, lipid profile), and quality of life (DTSQ and SF-36) scores.

Notifications of possible adverse events followed routine pharmacovigilance procedures and were not collected in the study.

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee. Informed consent was signed by all participants.

In the period between December 2021 and February 2022, 90 patients with poorly controlled T2D cared for by the center who started ow semaglutide according to routine care were identified. They had a mean age of 63.0 ± 10.0 years and a mean diabetes duration of 7.6 ± 5.9 years; 58.9% were men. Mean HbA1c was 7.7 ± 1.1% and BMI was 34.6 ± 6.4 Kg/m² (Table 1).

Before starting ow semaglutide, 33 (36.7%) subjects were treated with diet and lifestyle interventions, 39 (43.3%) were treated with metformin only, 9 (10.0%) with dual oral therapies, and 9 (10.0%) with basal insulin alone or in combination with oral antihyperglycemic agents (Table 1).

Results relative to body weight are reported in Figure 1. After 6 months from the ow semaglutide initiation, body weight significantly decreased by -4.69 Kg (95%CI -6.19;-3.19) (primary endpoint). After 12 months, body weight was further reduced (-5.38 Kg; 95%CI -7.79;-2.97).

On average, body weight was reduced by 5.2 ± 4.9% after 6 months and of 5.3 ± 7.5% after 12 months. Furthermore, 45.4% of patients reached at least 5% weight reduction, and 25.0% reached at least 10% weight reduction.

Results relative to the changes in the body composition assessed through BIA are reported in Table 2. Overall, fat mass was significantly reduced by 2.1 Kg after 6 months but slightly reduced after 12 months; lean mass was significantly reduced by over 3 Kg both at 6 and 12 months; total body water decreased by over 2 Kg both at 6 and 12 months. Basal metabolism was reduced by 45 Kcal after 12 months.

In terms of diet attitudes, after 6 months from the first prescription of ow semaglutide, mean calories intake declined by 117 Kcal (p=0.04), but this reduction was not maintained after 12 months (Table 3). Intake of all nutrients declined in the first 6 months of therapy, although only lipids reduction reached the statistical significance (-6.73 g; p=0.02). At 12 months no significant changes were documented.

Results relative to the changes in the clinical parameters are reported in Table 4. Statistically significant improvements in BMI, waist circumference, HbA1c, and FBG were documented after 6 months, and sustained after 12 months. Systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol were also significantly reduced after 12 months.

Results relative to the changes in the DTSQ and SF-36 scores are reported in Table 4. The mental component of SF-36 and the DTSQ scores significantly improved after 6 and 12 months.

Our study documented a weight loss of about 5 Kg after 6 and 12 months from the initiation of ow semaglutide. Prescription of ow semaglutide also produced all the expected improvements in metabolic control, lipid profile, and blood pressure previously documented both in experimental and observational studies (14–22). Improvements in these parameters were associated with better HRQoL outcomes, measured in terms of satisfaction with treatment (DTSQ questionnaire) and mental health (MCS score of SF-36 questionnaire). Interestingly, while data at 6 months were previously published (20), this was the first study to assess changes in body composition and nutrients intake following 12 months of treatment with ow semaglutide in the real-world. We found that fat and lean masses, water, basal metabolism, and intake of all nutrients (especially lipids) were reduced in the first 6 months of therapy and results were substantially maintained after 12 months.

Based on results of pivotal trials and real-world evidence in T2D subjects, an average reduction by 5 Kg in body weight and over 1.0% in HbA1c were expected (14, 17). Our results are in line with these expectations. Additional benefits on lipid profile and blood pressure were also documented in previous studies (18, 19).

Changes in dietary habits and body composition were also documented in our study, in line with previous studies. In fact, a trial conducted in 2016 showed that, after 6 months of treatment, ad libitum energy intake was substantially lower with semaglutide vs. placebo (-24%) with a corresponding loss of body weight of -5 Kg (28). In another Italian real-world study, 8 months treatment with ow semaglutide was associated with low levels of hunger, good control of eating, and meal portion size, and low levels of food cravings, as measured by the COEQ instrument (19).

Reduced appetite and energy intake, and less preference for energy‐rich foods, were also investigated in previous studies and were identified as a possible mechanism to explain the weight loss observed with once-weekly and oral semaglutide (28, 29).

In addition, pre-clinical studies highlighted that semaglutide is able to act on adipocytes and reduce visceral fat through the regulation of lipid uptake, lipid storage, and lipolysis in white adipose tissue. Besides, semaglutide may activate adipocyte browning and other marker expressions which help weight loss (30, 31).

Visceral adipose tissue is associated with increased cardiometabolic risks including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidaemia, hypertension, inflammation, and coronary heart disease (32), and visceral fat reduction may be one mechanism to explain the benefits seen on cardiovascular outcomes in trials with GLP1-RA among patients with T2D (33).

Subsets from STEP 1 and SUSTAIN 8 trials documented that lean mass accounted for approximately 40% of total weight loss attributable to ow semaglutide (34, 35). A recent review highlighted that use of GLP1-RA is associated with a reduction in fat mass, with proportions of lean body mass reduction ranging between 20% and 50% of total weight lost, which is consistent with diet-induced weight loss and bariatric surgery (36). In addition, another review highlighted how the risk of sarcopenia is high in elderly people with T2D and how multifactorial intervention combining physical activity and appropriate dietary choices with the most suitable glucose-lowering drugs may play a role on preserving muscle mass and function (37).

Another aspect to be considered is that obese people with diabetes have a larger prevalence of fibrotic adipose tissue than obese people without diabetes (38). This is one of the possible reasons why weight loss in type 2 diabetes is hard to obtain. Inertia in treating obesity in T2D patients further worsens fibrosis of adipose tissue and increases CV risk (39). Therefore, early interventions are strongly recommended.

Compared with existing knowledge, what this study adds is information in the real-world about body composition after 12 months of treatment with ow semaglutide.

This study also allowed the definition of the current phenotype considered as the ideal candidate for ow semaglutide treatment in clinical practice, i.e. subjects with T2Dand other components of the metabolic syndrome (hypertension, dyslipidemia, visceral fat), with a diet prescribed as a normal part of clinical care, that alone was not sufficient to reach the body weight target. Ow semaglutide was prescribed as first-line therapy in about 1/3 of involved subjects. In fact, 34.4% were treated with diet only before starting semaglutide, suggesting the persistence of clinical inertia in initiating diabetes treatment. On the other hand, a small proportion of patients (1 out of 10) was treated with basal insulin and some patients further de-intensified insulin treatment during the follow-up (data not shown); the study enforces the evidence that use of GLP-1 RA can reduce the weight gain attributable to insulin in this population.

Increasing evidence of efficacy and safety of GLP-1 RAs may encourage health care professionals to recognize that obesity is now a treatable serious chronic disease and motivate patients to re‐engage with weight loss when previous attempts have been ineffective or unsustainable.

However, loss of lean body mass and skeletal muscle associated with weight loss induced by GLP-1RA or the other approaches warrants attention, although with any level of weight loss achieved with current strategies, a certain amount of muscle mass loss is expected, and no specific concern was reported with GLP-1 RAs (36).

Furthermore, the positive impact of ow semaglutide on treatment satisfaction and psychological well-being represents an additional, important finding. It is known that improvements in psychological well-being are a mediator for better treatment adherence, persistence in therapy in the long term, and self-reported health outcomes (40). On the other hand, regulatory agencies are still investigating the association between psychiatric disorders and all available obesity drugs. A recent study showed a lower risk association of semaglutide with suicidal ideation compared to non-GLP1R agonist anti-obesity and anti-diabetes medications (41).

Our study has strengths and limitations. The main strength was that this is the first study documenting the real-world impact of ow semaglutide on body composition in the long-term. Another strength was the prospective study design. Among limitations, lack of a control group, and lack of tolerability and safety data can be mentioned.

In conclusion, our study documented benefits of treatment with once-weekly semaglutide for treating obesity in T2D subjects managed under routine clinical conditions, with important changes on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The documented loss of lean body mass suggests the need to implement strategies aiming at skeletal muscle preservation and physical function improvement, in addition to pharmacological approach.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The study protocol was approved by the Marche Region (Ancona, Italy) Ethics Committee, Prot. n. 2021 323 – 7818. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

PP: Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. GCa: Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. SA: Writing – review & editing. SD: Writing – review & editing. GM: Writing – review & editing. GCe: Writing – review & editing. MD: Writing – review & editing. SC: Writing – review & editing. NF: Writing – review & editing. FP: Writing – review & editing. GA: Writing – review & editing. RG: Writing – review & editing.