Obesity has become a widespread public health problem in many regions of the world. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have a dual effect on glycemic control and weight loss. Liraglutide, semaglutide, and dulaglutide were first used in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and their use is now growing among people without diabetes. Obesity management requires long-term or even lifelong interventions, so adherence to prescribed therapy is critical for achieving weight loss and maintaining it over time. Patient adherence to GLP-1RAs varies depending on the medication used, its dosing frequency, and whether findings come from clinical trials or real-world settings. According to the previous studies, semaglutide (Ozempic® and Wegovy®) tends to show better adherence than others. In contrast, liraglutide (Saxenda®) consistently shows lower adherence, often below 20% after one year in real-world data. Dulaglutide (Trulicity®) falls somewhere in the middle, with reported adherence of about 44% over 12 months. This review has highlighted several key insights that are essential for clinicians aiming to support long-term use of GLP-1RAs in obesity care. In conclusion, while GLP-1RAs offer significant benefits in obesity management, achieving sustained weight loss requires more than just initiating therapy; it demands an ongoing, patient-centered approach that supports patients throughout their journey.
Al-Shammaa et al. (Sat,) studied this question.