Integrating semaglutide into obesity management – a primary care perspective

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ABSTRACT

This final article in the supplement aims to summarize a clinical approach for weight management geared toward primary care practitioners, offering practical advice about how to integrate weight management into day-to-day practice. To achieve long-term successful weight loss, a comprehensive multimodal approach is recommended, focusing on both lifestyle modification and appropriate use of therapy. Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg is a novel treatment that can be used as an adjunct to lifestyle modification for the management of overweight and obesity. Key considerations are presented to support its optimal administration in conjunction with lifestyle modification, with a focus on assessing suitability and the importance of dose escalation and monitoring.

KEYWORDS:

• Obesity
• semaglutide
• glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist
• clinical practice
• primary care
• guidelines

Abbreviations

AMPA, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid

BMI, body mass index

CI, confidence interval

d, day

DPP-4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4

EMA, European Medicines Agency

ER, extended-release

FDA, US Food and Drug Administration

GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid

GLP-1RA, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist

MAOI, monoamine oxidase inhibitor

MEN 2, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

MTC, medullary thyroid carcinoma

PCP, primary care practitioner

STEP, Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity

T2D, type 2 diabetes

Acknowledgments

Medical writing support was provided by Debbie Day, BSc, of Axis, a division of Spirit Medical Communications Group Limited, and Gwen Wiseman, a contract writer working on behalf of Axis. Medical writing support was funded by Novo Nordisk Inc., in accordance with Good Publication Practice 3 (GPP3) guidelines (www.ismpp.org/gpp3).

Declaration of financial/other relationships

Janine V. Kyrillos: honoraria for non-promotional talks – Novo Nordisk, and fees from Eli Lilly for participation in a US Medical Education Obesity Advisory Board.

Bhasha Mukhopadhyay: no conflicts of interest.

Nicholas Pennings: independent contractor – Medifast; educational consultant – Obesity Medicine Association; consultant – Gelesis and Novo Nordisk; and fees for participation in US Medical Education Obesity Advisory Board with Lilly.

Neil S. Skolnik: advisory boards and consultant – Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, GSK, Lilly, Sanofi, Sanofi Pasteur, and Teva; speaker – AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, and Lilly; and research support – AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, and Sanofi.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This peer-reviewed article was supported by Novo Nordisk Inc.; the company was provided with the opportunity to perform a medical accuracy review.