[Source: Murvelashviliet al 2022, “Effectiveness of semaglutide vs. liraglutide for treating post-metabolic and bariatric surgery weight recurrence”, at Obesity 2022 conference; abstract #205.]
A 1-mg dose of semaglutide (Wegovy) weekly was better at maintaining weight than 3-mg liraglutide (Saxenda) daily for patients who put on pounds after bariatric surgery, a retrospective study suggested.
Among 207 patients who had weight recurrence after surgery, the least square mean change in body weight from baseline to 1 year was −12.92% with semaglutide compared with −8.77% with liraglutide (p < 0.001), reported Jaime P. Almandoz, MD, MBA, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues during the Obesity Week annual meeting.
Patients who took semaglutide versus liraglutide were also more likely to experience weight loss of 10% or more at 1 year (50.4% vs 32.6%; adjusted OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.28–4.29), as well as weight loss of 15% or more (27.8% vs 15.2%; aOR 2.55, 95% CI 1.22–5.36).
…For this study, Almandoz and team used electronic health record data on 207 patients who were treated for weight gain following bariatric surgery from January 2015 to April 2021. Mean age was 52.5 years, 89.9% were women, 46.4% were white, and 34.8% were Black. Mean BMI was 40.4. Outcomes did not differ by sex, age, or race/ethnicity. Of these patients, 50% underwent sleeve gastrectomy, 29% underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 21% underwent adjustable gastric banding. They were treated for weight recurrence with 1-mg weekly semaglutide or 3-mg daily liraglutide for 12 months. While this study didn’t address side effects, users of both drugs commonly experience gastrointestinal problems.