Hormone therapy linked to more weight loss with semaglutide, study says
Midlife women prescribed semaglutide alongside hormone therapy lose more total body weight than those taking the anti-obesity medication alone, according to a study presented between October 20 and 24 in San Diego, at the annual meeting of The Menopause Society.
Key Clinical Takeaways:
- Women using hormone therapy alongside semaglutide achieved 11.0 percent total body weight loss at 12 months, compared to 9.5 percent for nonusers.
- The study analyzed cohorts of 2,379 women taking semaglutide and 1,476 women taking tirzepatide, matching them using nearest-neighbor propensity scores.
- Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, noted the findings show that personalized weight management plans must include menopause-specific factors.
Propensity Score Matching Reveals Semaglutide Weight Divergence
Regina Castaneda and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic Florida in Jacksonville examined whether weight reduction trajectories for women aged 45 and older with a body mass index of 27 or higher varied based on concurrent hormone therapy use. To isolate the variable, the research team performed nearest-neighbor propensity score matching to mitigate confounding. Within the semaglutide cohort of 2,379 participants, 793 used hormone therapy while 1,586 did not.
Divergence in total body weight loss began at the nine-month mark, where hormone therapy users averaged a reduction of 9.8 percent compared to 8.2 percent for nonusers. That gap persisted at 12 months, registering at 11.0 percent versus 9.5 percent. By 15 months and at the final recorded follow-up, users of hormone therapy maintained greater reductions at 11.6 percent compared to 9.7 percent, and 11.9 percent versus 10.9 percent respectively. Patients utilizing both treatments were more likely to lose 10 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, and 30 percent of their total body weight.
Tirzepatide Cohorts Show Limited Divergence at Later Milestones
The study also evaluated a separate cohort of 1,476 women taking tirzepatide, consisting of 492 participants using hormone therapy and 984 nonusers. Among this group, hormone therapy was associated with a modestly greater weight loss at three months, showing a 6.6 percent reduction compared to 5.9 percent. A higher proportion of hormone therapy users in the tirzepatide group also achieved at least a 5 percent total body weight loss by the final follow-up, standing at 88 percent compared to 84 percent for nonusers.
Unlike the semaglutide data, however, differences between the tirzepatide subgroups did not reach statistical significance at later timepoints or across higher weight-loss thresholds.
Menopause Society Highlights Need for Individualized Metabolic Care
Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, addressed the clinical implications of the data during the meeting. This study highlights the importance of considering menopause-specific factors when developing personalized approaches to weight management for midlife women,
Faubion stated.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.