Using GLP-1 Medicines with Lifestyle Therapy Improves Teen Weight Loss by Increasing Commitment and Reducing Required Sessions

After 9.7 ± 6.6 months, a BMI reduction of ≥ 5% was observed in 37.3% of youth with obesity treated with liraglutide.

• A relative change in BMI was significantly greater in patients who continued liraglutide treatment compared to those who discontinued (-6.7% ± 7.5% vs. -0.7% ± 5.1%, p = 0.03).
• 39.2% of patients continued liraglutide treatment, while 33.3% discontinued, primarily due to gastrointestinal symptoms.
• 27.4% of patients switched to semaglutide or underwent metabolic-bariatric surgery.
• Combined health behavior and lifestyle treatment (HBLT) with liraglutide was associated with markedly higher odds of treatment continuation (OR 18.5, 95% CI 2.0-929.8, p < 0.01).
• Patients receiving obesity medication-specific HBLT showed a trend toward greater BMI reduction compared to those with high-frequency HBLT (-6.9% ± 7.2% vs. -4.0% ± 6.6%).

Simplified