Sustained Weight Loss: Combining Exercise with GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Outperforms Either Strategy Alone

A study led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen has revealed a promising strategy for improved long-term weight loss maintenance after obesity treatment. The study's focus was to evaluate whether combining supervised exercise with medication, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonist, can lead to better weight management than either method alone once the treatment has ceased.

The researchers analyzed results from a group of adults with obesity who, after losing a significant amount of weight through an eight-week low-calorie diet, were subjected to a year-long weight maintenance phase. They were divided into four groups, receiving either supervised exercise, daily injections of the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide, a combination of both, or a placebo. After the treatment phase, they were monitored for another year without any intervention to simulate real-world scenarios.

The findings, published in eClinicalMedicine, showed that the group receiving both liraglutide and supervised exercise maintained a more substantial weight loss and body-fat reduction compared to those who only received medication. Moreover, this combination treatment led to healthier body composition, demonstrated by a sustained decrease in fat percentage and fat mass.

The research suggests that incorporating exercise with obesity pharmacotherapy can help prevent body weight and fat mass regain after the pharmacotherapy is discontinued. Participants who engaged in regular exercise were more physically active and maintained better physical endurance, compared to those who just took the medication. This is crucial, considering that phasing out obesity medication often leads to weight regain.

The study, conducted between December 2018 and December 2020, revealed that weight regain was 6 kg more significant in participants stopping the medication as opposed to those who had engaged in supervised exercise. These results highlight the importance of continued active lifestyles after the completion of obesity pharmacotherapy.

The study was funded by Helsefonden and the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is a testament to the value of combining behavioral interventions with medical treatment for weight loss. Further research could focus on strategies to maintain healthy physical activity habits after stopping pharmacotherapy to enhance weight loss sustainability.

For more detailed findings and information on this study, access the full article at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102475.

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