What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 235 patients with obesity. The study was sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was long-term safety (phase 4). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
The injection reduced visceral fat by 12% compared to less than 2% with placebo.
The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2021 · NCT03038620
These findings — that daily liraglutide injection cut dangerous belly fat around organs by 12% — were published in the The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 235 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with obesity, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Visceral fat wraps around your organs and raises your risk of heart disease and diabetes. This treatment is FDA-approved for weight management and is available now as a daily injection. If you have obesity or are overweight with related health issues, ask your doctor if this medication might help you lose the most harmful type of fat.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open obesity trials
Resistance Training to Prevent Muscle Loss During Treatment With Tirzepatide
Incretin-based pharmacotherapies induce significant weight loss and represent a paradigm shift in obesity treatment. However, particularly fast weight loss may be accompanied by a significant loss of muscle mass, which is associated with a reduced metabolic rate at rest and during physical activity, increased insulin resistance, limited mobility, and potential long-term adverse effects. The aim of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of resistance training versus standard of care on contractile thigh muscle volume in patients receiving the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists 'tirzepatide'.
Knee Injections for Obese Patients With Knee Arthritis
The purpose of this study is to assess obese patients with knee arthritis and determine the non-inferiority of a low dose steroid treatment vs. standard dose steroid treatment for two knee outcome measures: pain and function.