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Clinical Research

Effectiveness of liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in a real-world setting without intensive lifestyle intervention

International Journal of Obesity volume 45, pages 776–786 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

We investigated the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 3 mg daily in combination with diet and exercise 2, 4, and 6 months after initiation in real-world settings in Korea.

Methods

People first using liraglutide starting in 2018 were recruited from ten sites in Korea. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured after 2, 4, and 6 months and compared with baseline values.

Results

The full cohort comprised 769 participants: 672 in the 2-month group, 427 in the 4-month group, and 219 in the 6-month group. The baseline mean ± standard deviation of BMI and body weight were 32.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2, and 87.5 ± 18.8 kg, respectively. Body weight and BMI decreased after initiation of liraglutide treatment: −2.94 kg and −1.08 kg/m2 at 2 months; −4.23 kg and −1.55 kg/m2 at 4 months, and −5.14 kg and −1.89 kg/m2 at 6 months (all P < 0.001). In the 6-month cohort, 52.5% and 18.3% of subjects lost ≥5% and ≥10% of body weight, respectively. After 6 months, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly by 3.90 and 1.93 mmHg, respectively. In those with diabetes mellitus, HbA1c and fasting glucose levels decreased significantly by 1.14% and 27.8 mg/dl, respectively. Among all participants, 27.6% experienced adverse effects, including nausea (20.8%), vomiting (5.2%), diarrhoea (2.5%), and skin rash (3.6%). Documented reasons for discontinuation of treatment were lack of effect (4.4%), adverse events (4.3%), and high cost (3.1%).

Conclusions

In real-world settings in Korea, daily treatment with liraglutide 3 mg was associated with clinically meaningful weight loss without serious adverse events.

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Fig. 1: Changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI)according to the treatment duration.
Fig. 2: Changes in blood pressures and glycemic factors in the 6-month cohort.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Dr. Hun Jee Choe, a fellow in Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea, for her technial support.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Jung Ha Park, Ju Young Kim

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea

    Jung Ha Park & Ju Young Kim

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, South Korea

    Jung Ha Park

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea

    Jong Han Choi

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea

    Jong Han Choi

  5. Department of Family Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea

    Hye Soon Park

  6. Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, South Korea

    Hyun-Young Shin

  7. Daejeon Endo Internal Medicine Clinic, Daejeon, South Korea

    Jae Min Lee

  8. Department of Family Medicine, Obesity and Metabolic Disease Center, Seongnam Central Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea

    Jin-Wook Kim

  9. Department of Family Medicine, CHAUM Medical Check-Up Center, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea

    Jin-Wook Kim

  10. Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea

    Hae-Jin Ko

  11. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

    Suk Chon

  12. Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea

    Bu Kyung Kim

  13. Department of Internal Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, South Korea

    Chul Sik Kim

  14. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea

    Soo Lim

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Park, J.H., Kim, J.Y., Choi, J.H. et al. Effectiveness of liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in a real-world setting without intensive lifestyle intervention. Int J Obes 45, 776–786 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00739-z

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