REAL-WORLD EFFECTIVENESS OF GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS FOR OBESITY IN THE UK: FINDINGS FROM THE DICE REALM STUDY
Author(s)
Stuart Flint, PhD1, Gabriella Gardiner, BSc2, Rachel Armstrong, PhD2, Angela McFarlane, BA2, Stephen Clarke, MSc2, James Kingsland, Prof.3, Luyuan Tan, PhD4, Krishna Gokhale, PhD4, Christian Billinghurst, MPH4.
1University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, 2IQVIA, London, United Kingdom, 3DiCE, Lancashire, United Kingdom, 4Dexter, Northampton, United Kingdom.
1University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, 2IQVIA, London, United Kingdom, 3DiCE, Lancashire, United Kingdom, 4Dexter, Northampton, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: Clinical trial evidence highlights the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) for obesity management. Despite the rapid and growing rollout of GLP-1 medications for obesity, real world evidence for their effectiveness remains sparse. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of obesity management pharmacotherapy initiated through UK digital healthcare providers by assessing changes in body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) from baseline at 3-,6-, and 12-months post-treatment initiation.
METHODS: The DiCE REALM study is a UK population-based retrospective cohort study using data from nine digital healthcare providers within the network, collected between 1st September 2022 and 31st July 2025. Data captured includes 1) body weight and BMI, 2) patient characteristics including co-morbidities status 3) Biomarker data, 4) adherence (prescription refills), 5) health-related behaviours, and 6) side-effects.
RESULTS: In total, 422,536 participants aged ≥ 18 years, with a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2 or ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 with one co-morbidity, had at least one prescription of a GLP-1 medication for obesity. Significant reductions in body weight and BMI were evident from baseline to 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-treatment initiation. These reductions were consistent across participant characteristics including for those with co-morbidities.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the largest real-world evidence of the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications for obesity to reduce body weight and BMI, with weight-related outcomes consistent with those reported in clinical trials. Findings also demonstrate that people are accessing and adhering to GLP-1 medication for obesity across all levels of deprivation, with consistent outcomes for those from the most and least deprived. Finally, nearly two-thirds of participants did not report a comorbidity, which may suggest that people are accessing these medications for preventative purposes. It is anticipated that the findings of DiCE REALM will inform clinicians and policymakers and help ensure fair, effective obesity care.
METHODS: The DiCE REALM study is a UK population-based retrospective cohort study using data from nine digital healthcare providers within the network, collected between 1st September 2022 and 31st July 2025. Data captured includes 1) body weight and BMI, 2) patient characteristics including co-morbidities status 3) Biomarker data, 4) adherence (prescription refills), 5) health-related behaviours, and 6) side-effects.
RESULTS: In total, 422,536 participants aged ≥ 18 years, with a BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2 or ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 with one co-morbidity, had at least one prescription of a GLP-1 medication for obesity. Significant reductions in body weight and BMI were evident from baseline to 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-treatment initiation. These reductions were consistent across participant characteristics including for those with co-morbidities.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the largest real-world evidence of the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications for obesity to reduce body weight and BMI, with weight-related outcomes consistent with those reported in clinical trials. Findings also demonstrate that people are accessing and adhering to GLP-1 medication for obesity across all levels of deprivation, with consistent outcomes for those from the most and least deprived. Finally, nearly two-thirds of participants did not report a comorbidity, which may suggest that people are accessing these medications for preventative purposes. It is anticipated that the findings of DiCE REALM will inform clinicians and policymakers and help ensure fair, effective obesity care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH5
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)