The Efficacy and Safety of Liraglutide in Patients Remaining Obese 6 Months after Metabolic Surgery.

Introduction: The safety and efficacy of liraglutide as a weight loss intervention in individuals who remain obese within 1 year post-metabolic surgery remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of liraglutide (1.8 mg) in patients with persistent obesity at 6 months postoperatively.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 61 patients who remained obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 28.0 kg/m²) at 6 months postoperatively. Among these patients, 27 were treated with 1.8 mg of liraglutide for 12 weeks, whereas 34 served as controls. The primary endpoint was the change in total weight loss (%TWL) after 24 weeks. Changes in weight, BMI, complications, and adverse events were also assessed.

Results: The liraglutide group showed a greater reduction in %TWL than the control group (11.6% ± 1.1% vs. 4.9% ± 1.0%), with an estimated treatment difference of 6.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-9.6%, P < 0.01). The adjusted mean differences in the reduction of weight and BMI between the liraglutide and control groups were - 6.2 kg (95% CI - 8.9 to - 3.4, P < 0.01) and - 3.0 kg/m² (95% CI - 4.2 to - 1.7, P < 0.01), respectively. The liraglutide group exhibited increased rates of remission in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hypertension. No serious adverse reactions were observed.

Conclusions: For patients who remained obese at 6 months postoperatively, 12-week liraglutide treatment resulted in increased weight loss, improved metabolic control, and high rate of remission for obesity-related metabolic diseases after 24 weeks. Earlier and more timely adjuvant weight loss medication intervention based on BMI within 1 year postoperatively may enhance weight loss after metabolic surgery. Graphical abstract available for this article.