The Efficacy of Semaglutide on Hypothalamic Obesity Caused by Craniopharyngioma Surgery

May 28, 2025Clinical endocrinology

Semaglutide's effects on weight gain after surgery for brain tumors affecting appetite control

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Abstract

A significant weight reduction was observed in 90% of patients receiving semaglutide after 6 months.

Patients with hypothalamic obesity following craniopharyngioma surgery showed a notable decrease in weight after 3 months of treatment with semaglutide.
Weight in the treatment group decreased from 108.9 kg at baseline to 96.1 kg after 6 months.
In contrast, the control group experienced weight gain during the same periods.
After 3 months, 64.3% of patients in the treatment group lost more than 5% of their body weight, rising to 90% after 6 months.
Semaglutide may provide an effective management strategy for obesity in patients post-craniopharyngioma surgery.

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BACKGROUND: Hypothalamic obesity, weight gain dominantly due to hypothalamic dysfunction, is a challenge for patients with craniopharyngioma surgery. Semaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, has shown promise in obesity management. However, the efficacy in this specific patient population remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of semaglutide on weight reduction in patients with craniopharyngioma surgery.

METHODS: A prospective clinical study was conducted involving 23 patients with obesity after craniopharyngioma surgery who attended the outpatient endocrinology department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2023 to October 2024. Patients were divided into a treatment group receiving semaglutide (n = 14) and a control group undergoing lifestyle intervention alone (n = 9). Parameters including weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood glucose and lipid profiles, were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months of treatment.

RESULTS: The treatment group showed a significant reduction in weight after 3 months (108.9 ± 20.9 kg vs. 100.8 ± 20.2 kg, p < 0.001) and after 6 months (108.9 ± 20.9 kg vs. 96.1 ± 23.1 kg, p < 0.001). Conversely, the control group experienced weight gain over the same periods. After 3 months, 64.3% of patients in the treatment group achieved weight loss greater than 5%. And after 6 months this rate increased to 90%.

CONCLUSION: Semaglutide demonstrated significant effects on weight loss in patients with hypothalamic obesity with craniopharyngioma surgery, providing a viable option for managing obesity in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2400094933.

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The Efficacy of Semaglutide on Hypothalamic Obesity Caused by Craniopharyngioma Surgery

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