Background

The continued emergence of new weight loss medications has introduced a variety of tools for clinicians to use to manage the chronic disease of obesity. With the predicted rate of obesity in the United States being close to 50% by 2030, it is critical that we consider how to best utilize them in conjunction with one another.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 68 post-bariatric surgery patients who were administered weight loss medications (liraglutide, lorcaserin, phentermine, and topiramate) between 3/1/15-9/30/20 was performed. Weights at each visit after initiating medication, as well as change in lab values for low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, and hemoglobin A1c (Hgb A1c) were statistically analyzed.

Results

Liraglutide was the only medication to exhibit statistically significant weight loss p( <0.05) when used by post bariatric surgery patients. The average treatment time was 12 months. It was evidence once patients stopped taking their prescribed medications; they did have some weight recurrence making the change no longer statistically significant. Semaglutide was not yet approved for the treatment of obesity during the period of time this cohort of patients were treated. There were no significant differences observed with respect to Hgb A1c, HDL and LDL levels.

Conclusions

This retrospective analysis can set the stage for further prospective research regarding the obesity epidemic. Extended periods of treatment or use of Semaglutide or Tirzepatide may prove to be more effective in preventing weight recurrence.