A recent research published in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ revealed that once-a weekly, 2.4-mg dose of subcutaneous semaglutide in obese adults will reduce BMI.

The double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trial recruited adolescents (12 to <18 years of age) with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI] in the 95th percentile or higher) or with overweight (a BMI in the 85th percentile or higher) and at least one weight-related coexisting condition. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (at a dose of 2.4 mg) or placebo for 68 weeks, plus lifestyle intervention. The primary end-point was the percentage change in BMI from baseline to week 68; the secondary confirmatory endpoint was a weight loss of at least 5% at week 68.

The mean change in BMI from baseline to week 68 was 16.1% with semaglutide and 0.6% with placebo. At week 68, 73% in the semaglutide group had a weight loss of 5% or more, as compared with 18% in the placebo group (estimated odds ratio, 14.0; 95% CI, 6.3 to 31.0; P<0.001). Reductions in body weight and improvement with respect to cardiometabolic risk factors (waist circumference and levels of glycated hemoglobin, lipids [except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol], and alanine aminotransferase) were greater with semaglutide than with placebo.

According to the researchers, among adolescents with obesity, once-weekly treatment with a 2.4-mg dose of semaglutide plus lifestyle intervention resulted in a greater reduction in BMI than lifestyle intervention alone.