Saxenda Results: What to Expect at 1, 3, 6 and 12 Months
In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily lost 7.4% of their body weight on average over 56 weeks, against 3% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 7.4%
- On placebo
- 3%
- Trial length
- 56 weeks
- Trial
- SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes
Saxenda in brief
Its half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h, half is gone, while about 3% remains after five half-lives (2.7 d).
During SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks, body weight loss was 7.4%, compared with 3% on placebo.
Based on the DailyMed FDA label.
Saxenda results: the numbers first
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | 7.4% | 3% | 56 | Adults had obesity or were overweight, without type 2 diabetes |
The source is SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Understanding the average figure in pounds
Three starting weights all use the same trial average of 7.4%. This comes from arithmetic only rather than any prediction about one person: some lose more, some lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 13 lb | about 5 lb |
| 220 lb | about 16 lb | about 7 lb |
| 260 lb | about 19 lb | about 8 lb |
Based on the DailyMed FDA label.
A Week-by-Week View
- During the first weeks, stomach side effects occur most often while the dose remains low and continues to rise. They often come back for a few days after each dose increase.
- Week 56 brought the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial to an end, when the average loss shown above was measured.
Sources: health.clevelandclinic.org and PubMed.
Why Stalls Happen and What Helps
- Check your place among the dose steps. Every trial above found less weight loss with lower doses.
- Over the past month, count any doses you missed or took late.
- Record a few days of food and drinks. When your portions get smaller, liquid calories and grazing add up.
- If your progress has stalled for months, talk with your prescriber about switching medicines. Also ask about checking your thyroid or blood sugar.