How do patients feel about using GLP-1 RAs?

A study of patients’ experiences when using GLP-1 RAs for weight loss has prompted calls for standardised guidelines to improve clinical support and expectation management for both patients and GPs.
 
Its researchers are also urging more equitable access to the weight-loss medications as part of long-term public health efforts, at a time when the drugs’ popularity shows no sign of slowing down.
 
The study, published this month, asked patients using GLP-1 RAs about their experiences and how clinical care could be improved.
 
It found the drugs are seen by users as an adjunct to personal effort and lifestyle change, not a standalone solution.
 
However, it also noted that the quality of care for each patient was ‘highly variable’, prompting a call for standardised guidelines for patient education and clinical support.
 
‘For one patient, lack of counselling about adverse effects led to delayed recognition that symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea were medication-related,’ the research said.
 
‘Other participants described brief, transactional clinical encounters in which prescriptions were provided with little discussion or opportunity to ask questions.
 
‘We emphasise the need not only for equitable access to GLP-1 RAs and comprehensive medical support, but for long-term health promotion efforts and obesity prevention policies.’ 
 
Dr Gary Deed, a member of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care, said GLP-1 RAs are a ‘great clinical asset’ for GPs managing high-risk patients, but stressed that a multimodal approach is still needed.
 
‘It is an important reminder to both prescribers and users that management of weight loss requires a multimodal approach, where lifestyle is foundational in successful outcomes and supports adherence to any medically supervised prescribing,’ he told newsGP. 
 
‘It would be a great clinical asset to help support specific high-risk individuals achieve equitable and evidence-based support to lower risks and not add further economic burden.
 
‘Social disadvantage clusters risks, not just from obesity and overweight, but also associated chronic disease especially diabetes and heart disease.’
 
It comes as the Federal Government deliberates a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to set a PBS listing for semaglutide (sold as Wegovy) as an obesity treatment for eligible patients with cardiovascular disease.
 
For the study, researchers interviewed 30 participants from 15 states in the United States, from July to September 2025, 23 of whom were taking GLP-1 RAs, and seven who had used the medication previously.
 
Eight key themes emerged from the interviews, the most prominent being that the medication had reduced ‘food noise’ psychological hunger or appetite, and the second being that GLP-1 RAs ‘are not a standalone solution to weight loss’.
 
Respondent comments included that they were more motivated to exercise because they were losing weight, and felt more confident about being outside and having people see them exercise.
 
‘GLP-1 RA therapy was therefore not experienced as a standalone or “miracle” weight loss solution, but as a tool that supported active engagement in diet and lifestyle change,’ wrote the researchers. 
 
Dr Deed said the study is a ‘call-out to all GPs to be knowledgeable about these emerging therapies’.
 
‘They appear to be useful outside of weight management alone, but also have indications for liver fibrosis (semaglutide) and sleep apnoea and heart disease (people without diabetes with high CVD risk),’ he said. 
 
In response to the researchers’ call for standardised guidelines for patient education and clinical support, Dr Deed said there are already useful resources available, but multilingual assets are needed.
 
‘There are good resources already developed for patient education and support, but of course there needs to be greater multicultural and linguistically diverse and First Nations resources easily accessible,’ he said. 
 
‘Guidelines are useful, but it is the translation of these on an individual basis to each situation that is the outcome we want.
 
‘The Obesity Specific interest group helps support practitioners develop a collegiate support network to improve clinical translation of these guidelines and provides education on obesity management as a recognition of advanced skills.’ 
 
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