A study of more than 500,000 adults who have privately accessed GLP-1 obesity treatments provides an evidence base for the future of obesity care. 

The Digital Clinical Excellence (DiCE) Network’s latest study provides the strongest evidence to date of how GLP-1 weight management medicines perform in routine online, digitally enabled private clinical practice.

The DiCE REALM (Real-World Evidence in Lifestyle and Medicines) study brings together nine leading UK regulated independent digital healthcare providers to analyse deidentified patient data from more than 500,000 adults who have privately accessed GLP-1 obesity treatments through online services. Researchers hope that the study provides an evidence base to inform clinical practice, healthcare policy and the future of obesity care.

It demonstrates an average weight loss of more than 16% after 12 months, a 75% reduction in the proportion of patients with Class III obesity, and 37% of patients who completed 12 months lost more than 20% of their body weight. The report also suggests that patients are accessing treatment across all levels of socioeconomic deprivation, which suggests that digitally enabled care can support equitable access while expanding patient choice.

While clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of GLP-1 medicines, relatively little has been known about their use in everyday clinical practice through regulated digital healthcare providers. DiCE REALM provides real-world evidence reflecting how people access, use and benefit from these treatments outside controlled trial settings.

“The DiCE REALM study provides valuable real-world evidence on obesity treatment delivered through digital healthcare providers,” said Stuart Flint, principal investigator of the study and associate professor of the psychology of obesity at the University of Leeds.

“Because most eligible UK adults currently access these medicines privately through digital services, this research offers important insights that complement clinical trials and better reflect everyday practice,” he added. 

DiCE collaborated with IQVIA, a global provider of clinical research services.