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Attitudes towards injectable GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment: a qualitative interview study with healthcare professionals
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Attitudes towards injectable GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment: a qualitative interview study with healthcare professionals

Raluca Cristina Capaian, Phillippa Lally and Saskia Sanderson
Obesity Science and Practice, Vol.In Press(In Press)
27/02/2026

Abstract

semaglutide Wegovy GLP-1 Interviews qualitative Obesity Qualitative Methods (social sciences)

Injectable GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist) can help individuals living with obesity to lose weight. UK guidelines currently recommend semaglutide and other injectable GLP-1 drugs are prescribed in specialist (Tier 3) multidisciplinary weight management services, and other settings. The aim of this study was to explore views of healthcare professionals working within a specialist weight management service that was not yet prescribing injectable GLP-1 drugs, about these drugs being prescribed in their service in the future. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 healthcare professionals; thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Eleven main themes were identified within four theme clusters. Knowledge: (1) knowledge sources; (2) levels of current understanding. Perceived benefits: the drugs (3) might increase patients’ confidence in ability to lose weight, and (4) provide a valuable middle ground treatment option between interpersonal behavioural support and bariatric surgery. Concerns: (5) patients might gain weight when they stop taking the drugs; the drugs might (6) mask behavioural patterns, (7) decrease patients’ engagement with interpersonal behaviour change support, and (8) have mental health risks. Service provision considerations: (9) providing interpersonal behaviour change support before, alongside and/or after stopping drug prescriptions; (10) the drug prescription pathway is experimental, and (11) the role of healthcare professionals in specialist weight management services is evolving. The findings highlight several areas for further research and practice, including how specialist weight management service teams might integrate interpersonal behavioural support and injectable GLP-1 drug prescriptions to best help patients in the future.

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Manuscript_PL_RC_2_SCS_clean, no table129.90 kB
Author's Accepted Manuscript CC BY V4.0 Restricted. Access maybe granted on request., This file will be open access upon publication.
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Table 1.Participant characteristics15.70 kB
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Table 2.Theme clusters, themes and example quotes18.35 kB
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Themes - for supplementary material22.01 kB
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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20552238View

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