The findings suggest obesity is like other conditions which require ongoing treatment, such as high blood pressure, COPD and asthma. Participants’ risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes also went back up again. One year after the withdrawal of treatment, however, participants regained two-thirds of their prior weight loss, according to the latest data from the study. Findings published in 2021 showed 75% of people who took the drug lost more than 10% of their body weight and more than one-third lost more than 20%, with the drug being hailed as a ‘game changer.’
The STEP 1 trial followed people who took a ground-breaking new drug for obesity, semaglutide, alongside lifestyle intervention. People with obesity whose weight and health improve following drug treatment are likely to need the treatment long term, according to a study at UCLH and UCL which highlights the chronic nature of obesity.
