Which Weight Loss Drugs Work Best Over 4 Years? Real-World Veteran Data
Semaglutide and phentermine/topiramate showed the most consistent long-term weight loss over up to 48 months in a real-world veteran population.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Semaglutide and phentermine/topiramate showed the most consistent long-term weight loss among veterans, with data extending up to 48 months.
Key Numbers
Weight tracked at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Six medications compared: semaglutide, orlistat, liraglutide, phentermine, phentermine/topiramate, and naltrexone/bupropion.
How They Did This
Single-center retrospective study analyzing weight outcomes at multiple timepoints for veterans prescribed various weight loss medications.
Why This Research Matters
Most weight loss drug studies last 1-2 years. This study provides real-world data on how well these medications work over up to 4 years, which matters because obesity is a chronic condition.
The Bigger Picture
Most weight loss drug studies last 1–2 years. This 4-year real-world data fills an important gap, showing which medications maintain their effect over the timeframe that actually matters for chronic disease management.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective single-center study without randomization. Patients were not randomly assigned to medications, so differences between groups may reflect patient selection.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why does phentermine/topiramate perform as well as semaglutide long-term?
- ?Would tirzepatide perform even better over 4 years?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Up to 48 months of data One of the longest real-world comparisons of weight loss medications, tracking outcomes for up to 4 years
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated moderate: long follow-up period provides valuable real-world data, but retrospective single-center design with no randomization limits causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024. Builds on a 2021 study from the same center with extended follow-up.
- Original Title:
- Long-Term Assessment of Weight Loss Medications in a Veteran Population.
- Published In:
- Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS, 41(7), 202-207 (2024)
- Authors:
- Rodriguez, Allison D, Ifeachor, Amanda P, Moore, Emily A, Otte, Cassandra F, Schopper, M Joseph, Liangpunsakul, Suthat, Lteif, Amale A
- Database ID:
- RPEP-09162
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which weight loss drug works longest?
In this 4-year real-world study, semaglutide and phentermine/topiramate showed the most sustained results over time.
Do weight loss drugs stop working over time?
Some do — this study found differences between medications in long-term effectiveness, with semaglutide and phentermine/topiramate maintaining benefits best.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-09162APA
Rodriguez, Allison D; Ifeachor, Amanda P; Moore, Emily A; Otte, Cassandra F; Schopper, M Joseph; Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Lteif, Amale A. (2024). Long-Term Assessment of Weight Loss Medications in a Veteran Population.. Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS, 41(7), 202-207. https://doi.org/10.12788/fp.0490
MLA
Rodriguez, Allison D, et al. "Long-Term Assessment of Weight Loss Medications in a Veteran Population.." Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, 2024. https://doi.org/10.12788/fp.0490
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Long-Term Assessment of Weight Loss Medications in a Veteran..." RPEP-09162. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/rodriguez-2024-longterm-assessment-of-weight
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.