Kevin Ni, Elisa Rogowitz, Abtin K Farahmand, Laura K Kaizer, Jaron Arbet, Christina R Cunningham, Elizabeth A Thomas, David R Saxon
Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2024, bvae042
https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae042
Despite a high prevalence of obesity in the veteran population, antiobesity medications (AOMs) have been underused in the Veterans Health Administration. Real-world reports on outcomes when AOMs have been used in veterans is limited.
To analyze weight loss outcomes from a local Veterans Health Administration pharmacotherapy-based weight management clinic (WMC).
This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans enrolled in a local WMC for 15 months from August 2016 through September 2018 and followed through November 2019. Patients were offered 1 of 5 available AOMs based on their comorbidities. Factors associated with weight loss (5% or more weight loss) were assessed.
A total of 159 patients were seen in a WMC, 149 (93.7%) veterans were prescribed an AOM, and 129 returned for follow-up. Overall, 61/129 (47%) patients achieved 5% or greater weight loss and 28/129 (22%) achieved 10% or greater weight loss within 15 months. Clinically significant weight loss (%) over the first 15 months was achieved with phentermine/topiramate ER (−6.3%) and liraglutide (−7.5%), but not with orlistat (−3.9%) and lorcaserin (−3.6%). Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea was negatively associated with achieving ≥5% weight loss.
Phentermine/topiramate ER and liraglutide were found to be effective AOMs among veterans. Further work is needed to mitigate barriers to AOM initiation given the continued rise in obesity.
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