Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study

Abstract Background The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in patients with weight regain after bariatric surgery remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of 12 months of GLP1-RA treatment in a real-world patient population with...

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Main Authors: Anders Boisen Jensen, Ursina Machado, Frida Renström, Stefan Aczél, Patrick Folie, Magdalena Biraima-Steinemann, Stefan Bilz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Endocrine Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-01913-4
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author Anders Boisen Jensen
Ursina Machado
Frida Renström
Stefan Aczél
Patrick Folie
Magdalena Biraima-Steinemann
Stefan Bilz
author_facet Anders Boisen Jensen
Ursina Machado
Frida Renström
Stefan Aczél
Patrick Folie
Magdalena Biraima-Steinemann
Stefan Bilz
author_sort Anders Boisen Jensen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in patients with weight regain after bariatric surgery remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of 12 months of GLP1-RA treatment in a real-world patient population with weight regain after bariatric surgery. Methods A single-centre retrospective observational study. Patients with post-bariatric weight regain subsequently treated with GLP1-RA were identified, and the effect on weight after 12 months of treatment was determined. Data are presented as medians (interquartile ranges) or frequencies (%), and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for paired and nonpaired group comparisons, respectively. Results Forty patients (80% female) were included in the analysis. Liraglutide (3.0 mg, daily subcutaneous injection, n = 22) or semaglutide (1.0 mg, weekly subcutaneous injection, n = 18) was started 74.5 (51.0, 108.3) months after surgery following a weight regain of 14.7 (10.3, 19.6)%. After 12 months of GLP1-RA treatment, a total body weight, BMI, and percentage excess body weight reduction of 10.5 (6.1, 14.7) kg, 3.7 (2.5, 5.3) kg/m2, and 41.7 (22.1, 70.5)% were observed, corresponding to a loss of 99.3 (61.0, 135.4)% of the weight regained (P-value < 0.0001). The observed reduction in BMI was significantly lower with liraglutide than with semaglutide, 3.1 (2.0, 4.7) vs. 4.7 (3.7, 6.0) kg/m2 (P-value = 0.04). Adverse events were reported in 13 (32.5%) patients, all of which were mild and transient. Conclusion GLP1-RA therapy with liraglutide or semaglutide for 12 months is efficacious and safe for the treatment of weight regain following bariatric surgery. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-1aa42d66a0b74aafa629e4793119e16c2025-08-20T03:10:06ZengBMCBMC Endocrine Disorders1472-68232025-04-012511810.1186/s12902-025-01913-4Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational studyAnders Boisen Jensen0Ursina Machado1Frida Renström2Stefan Aczél3Patrick Folie4Magdalena Biraima-Steinemann5Stefan Bilz6Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of St. GallenAbstract Background The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in patients with weight regain after bariatric surgery remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of 12 months of GLP1-RA treatment in a real-world patient population with weight regain after bariatric surgery. Methods A single-centre retrospective observational study. Patients with post-bariatric weight regain subsequently treated with GLP1-RA were identified, and the effect on weight after 12 months of treatment was determined. Data are presented as medians (interquartile ranges) or frequencies (%), and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for paired and nonpaired group comparisons, respectively. Results Forty patients (80% female) were included in the analysis. Liraglutide (3.0 mg, daily subcutaneous injection, n = 22) or semaglutide (1.0 mg, weekly subcutaneous injection, n = 18) was started 74.5 (51.0, 108.3) months after surgery following a weight regain of 14.7 (10.3, 19.6)%. After 12 months of GLP1-RA treatment, a total body weight, BMI, and percentage excess body weight reduction of 10.5 (6.1, 14.7) kg, 3.7 (2.5, 5.3) kg/m2, and 41.7 (22.1, 70.5)% were observed, corresponding to a loss of 99.3 (61.0, 135.4)% of the weight regained (P-value < 0.0001). The observed reduction in BMI was significantly lower with liraglutide than with semaglutide, 3.1 (2.0, 4.7) vs. 4.7 (3.7, 6.0) kg/m2 (P-value = 0.04). Adverse events were reported in 13 (32.5%) patients, all of which were mild and transient. Conclusion GLP1-RA therapy with liraglutide or semaglutide for 12 months is efficacious and safe for the treatment of weight regain following bariatric surgery. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-01913-4Bariatric surgeryGLP-1 receptor agonistLiraglutideSemaglutideWeight regain
spellingShingle Anders Boisen Jensen
Ursina Machado
Frida Renström
Stefan Aczél
Patrick Folie
Magdalena Biraima-Steinemann
Stefan Bilz
Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
BMC Endocrine Disorders
Bariatric surgery
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Liraglutide
Semaglutide
Weight regain
title Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
title_full Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
title_fullStr Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
title_short Efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery: a real-world retrospective observational study
title_sort efficacy of 12 months therapy with glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide on weight regain after bariatric surgery a real world retrospective observational study
topic Bariatric surgery
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Liraglutide
Semaglutide
Weight regain
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-01913-4
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