Real-world, digital-first delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in women

Abstract Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have demonstrated substantial weight reduction and cardiometabolic benefit in randomized trials; however, prospective implementation evidence from digital care models and female sex community populations remains limited. Here we report outcomes from an observational study of 8,127 women initiating GLP-1RA therapy (99.8% tirzepatide) through a structured digital program incorporating mandatory biochemical monitoring, weekly video-supported follow-up and clinician-guided dose titration in the UK. Mean weight reduction was 16.1 kg (95% confidence interval 15.9 to 16.2; P < 0.001), representing 15.5% of baseline weight; 83.1% achieved ≥10% and 22.4% achieved ≥20% weight loss, with consistent responses across age, baseline weight and socioeconomic strata. Among participants with paired biomarker data, mean glycated hemoglobin decreased by 3.3 mmol mol − 1 (95% confidence interval 3.1 to 3.4; P < 0.001), normalizing in 84.5% of those with baseline diabetes-range values and 96.3% with prediabetes, and lipid parameters improved significantly (reductions in total cholesterol of 0.77 mmol l − 1 , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 0.61 mmol l − 1 and triglycerides of 0.47 mmol l − 1 ). Retention was 91.4% at 6 months, with no serious treatment-related adverse events. These findings support the feasibility of delivering structured, digitally enabled obesity pharmacotherapy at scale and provide prospective real-world implementation evidence for this care model. Interpretation is limited by the observational design, absence of a comparator group, self-pay population and 6-month follow-up.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Medicine
Published
2026-10-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04687-x
Primary Topic
Diabetes Treatment and Management
Type
article
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article

Real-world, digital-first delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in women

John Eric Deanfield, Raj Thakkar, Michail Katsoulis, Riyaz S. Patel et al.
Nature Medicine
Diabetes Treatment and Management
article

Real-world, digital-first delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in women

John Eric Deanfield, Raj Thakkar, Michail Katsoulis, Riyaz S. Patel, Matthew J. Noble, Donna H. Ryan, Jamie L. C. Wong, Emma Deanfield, Rachael Joy
article en

Abstract

Abstract Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have demonstrated substantial weight reduction and cardiometabolic benefit in randomized trials; however, prospective implementation evidence from digital care models and female sex community populations remains limited. Here we report outcomes from an observational study of 8,127 women initiating GLP-1RA therapy (99.8% tirzepatide) through a structured digital program incorporating mandatory biochemical monitoring, weekly video-supported follow-up and clinician-guided dose titration in the UK. Mean weight reduction was 16.1 kg (95% confidence interval 15.9 to 16.2; P < 0.001), representing 15.5% of baseline weight; 83.1% achieved ≥10% and 22.4% achieved ≥20% weight loss, with consistent responses across age, baseline weight and socioeconomic strata. Among participants with paired biomarker data, mean glycated hemoglobin decreased by 3.3 mmol mol − 1 (95% confidence interval 3.1 to 3.4; P < 0.001), normalizing in 84.5% of those with baseline diabetes-range values and 96.3% with prediabetes, and lipid parameters improved significantly (reductions in total cholesterol of 0.77 mmol l − 1 , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 0.61 mmol l − 1 and triglycerides of 0.47 mmol l − 1 ). Retention was 91.4% at 6 months, with no serious treatment-related adverse events. These findings support the feasibility of delivering structured, digitally enabled obesity pharmacotherapy at scale and provide prospective real-world implementation evidence for this care model. Interpretation is limited by the observational design, absence of a comparator group, self-pay population and 6-month follow-up.

Nature Medicine
Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US), Louisiana State University (US), Sustainable Home Survey (United Kingdom) (GB), MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (GB), Informa Healthcare (GB), University College London (GB)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Diabetes Treatment and Management
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