Can exercise help weight maintenance alongside liraglutide?

The short answer

A supervised exercise program combined with liraglutide improved several measures of weight maintenance and fitness. A later follow-up offers clues about lasting habits, but does not prove exercise prevents regain after stopping medication.

During the treatment year

In S-LiTE, 195 adults with obesity and no diabetes first lost an average of 13.1 kg during an eight-week low-calorie diet. They then entered four randomized groups for one year.

Compared with placebo plus usual activity, estimated differences in weight change are shown below.

These are differences between groups after the initial diet, not total weight lost.

The combination beat exercise alone for weight loss, but its difference from liraglutide alone was not statistically clear. It also reduced body-fat percentage more than either alone. Increased heart rate and gallstones were reported more often with liraglutide alone than with the combination.

A year after treatment ended

Only 109 people attended the later assessment. Estimated regain during the off-treatment year was 9.6 kg after liraglutide, 7.1 kg after the combination, and 3.6 kg after exercise alone.

The combination’s overall weight-change advantage over liraglutide alone did not pass the study’s adjustment for testing multiple comparisons. People returning for follow-up had generally responded better during treatment, and missing measurements had to be estimated.

The useful takeaway

Exercise can contribute benefits beyond the scale. These findings support studying a structured activity program alongside treatment; they do not guarantee lasting weight loss or establish when someone should stop a medicine. This trial tested liraglutide, not newer weekly medicines.