The takeaway
In BARI-OPTIMISE, liraglutide helped a selected group lose more weight after an incomplete response to surgery. It did not compare medication against another operation.
Who took part?
Researchers randomized 70 adults at least one year after gastric bypass or sleeve surgery. They had lost no more than 20% of their surgery-day weight and had a low GLP-1 response to a meal.
Participants received daily liraglutide 3.0 mg or placebo, alongside lifestyle support, for 24 weeks.
Percent of starting weight; adjusted between-group difference is 8.03 points
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Liraglutide 3 mg daily | 8.82% |
| Placebo | 0.54% |
What changed?
Average weight loss was 8.82% with liraglutide versus 0.54% with placebo. The adjusted advantage was 8.03 percentage points.
The main analysis used available measurements from 57 participants. Missing visits limit certainty.
What were the trade-offs?
Side effects were more frequent with liraglutide and mainly digestive. No serious adverse events were reported; this small trial cannot rule out uncommon harms.
Most participants were White women. Results may differ for other patients; outcomes after stopping remain unknown.
NIHR and the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust funded the study; Novo Nordisk supplied the treatment and placebo.