Liraglutide Prescribed via Telemedicine: Most Patients Lose Weight and Want to Continue Despite Side Effects

What the researchers found

Among 966 patients prescribed liraglutide via a DTC telemedicine platform:

- 85.6% reported weight loss >2 kg after 50 days, with an average loss of 4.9 kg

- 94.1% adhered to the prescribed regimen

- 39.8% reported adverse events, primarily gastrointestinal

- 86.4% expressed desire to continue treatment despite side effects

- 46.6% had a baseline BMI between 30 and 34.4 kg/m²

- 88.9% were GLP-1 RA-naive (first time using these drugs)

- 70% had long-standing obesity

Why it matters

The explosion of GLP-1 drug demand has outpaced traditional healthcare access, driving many patients to telemedicine platforms. This study provides some of the first real-world data on whether DTC prescribing of GLP-1 agonists produces meaningful results. The high adherence and weight loss rates suggest telemedicine can be an effective channel, though the lack of in-person monitoring raises safety questions that need longer-term study.

How the study worked

Retrospective cross-sectional study using anonymized data from 966 patients who received liraglutide prescriptions through a DTC telemedicine platform between August 2022 and April 2024. Patients completed an initial online eligibility questionnaire reviewed by a physician. A follow-up questionnaire at 50 days post-prescription assessed weight loss, adverse events, treatment adherence, and satisfaction using patient-reported outcomes.

What this study cannot tell us

This is a retrospective study relying entirely on patient-reported outcomes without clinical verification (no measured weights, lab tests, or physical exams). The 50-day follow-up is very short and does not capture long-term efficacy, weight regain, or late adverse events. There was no control group. Patients using DTC platforms may differ from the general obese population in motivation and health literacy. The data comes from a single telemedicine platform.

How to read the evidence

This is a retrospective observational study with patient-reported outcomes and no control group. While the large sample size (966 patients) adds value, the lack of clinical verification and short follow-up period limit the evidence quality.

When this study was published

Published in 2025 with data from 2022–2024, this study captures the early era of DTC telemedicine prescribing for GLP-1 drugs — a rapidly evolving landscape.

The bigger picture

DTC telemedicine for GLP-1 prescriptions represents a major shift in how obesity is treated — moving from traditional clinical encounters to online platforms that can reach more patients faster. This study is part of a broader conversation about balancing accessibility with safety oversight. As GLP-1 drugs become even more widely used, understanding outcomes in real-world, non-clinical-trial populations is essential.

Questions still open

• Do patients who start liraglutide via telemedicine maintain their weight loss at 6 and 12 months?
• How do adverse event rates and discontinuation patterns compare between DTC telemedicine and traditional in-person prescribing?
• Are there safety concerns — such as missed contraindications or inadequate monitoring — that are more common with DTC prescribing?

Common questions

Read the original research

GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for obesity via direct-to-consumer telemedicine: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Digital health, 11, 20552076251382040

Citation

Gratzke, Monika; von Bueren, Johannes; Garrahy, Edward; Calewaert, Bart; Abeck, Finn; Wuelfing, Christian. (2025). GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for obesity via direct-to-consumer telemedicine: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.. Digital health, 11, 20552076251382040. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251382040