Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Real-world experiences of people using injectable semaglutide for obesity management in the OUTSTEP 1 study (143770)

Michael Vallis 1 , Salah Abusnana 2 , Jennifer L. Baker 3 , Andreea Ciudin 4 5 6 7 , Leyla Hernandez Donoso 8 , Sandra Elia 9 , Dmitry Estulin 8 , Bruno Halpern 10 11 , Samantha Hocking 12 , Hyuk-sang Kwon 13 , Susanne Reger-Tan 14 , Ricardo Reynoso 8 , Hanen Samouda 15 16 , Arya M. Sharma 17
  1. Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
  2. University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  3. Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
  4. Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, , Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
  5. Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Barcelona, Spain
  6. Department of Human Physiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  7. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain;, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
  8. Novo Nordisk Health Care, Zürich, Switzerland
  9. Obesity Matters, Toronto, Canada
  10. Associação Brasileira para o Estudo da Obesidade e Síndrome Metabólica (ABESO) , São Paulo, Brazil
  11. Obesity Center, Hospital 9 de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil
  12. Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, , University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia
  13. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
  14. Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, ,, University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
  15. Department of Precision Health, , Nutrition and Health Research Group, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
  16. Luxembourgish Association for the Study of Obesity, Enscherange, Luxembourg
  17. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,, University of Alberta, Edmonton, , Alberta, Canada

Abstract:

Introduction

Real-world data on the experiences, expectations and treatment pathways of people using injectable semaglutide for obesity management is needed to inform person-centred care. OUTSTEP 1 aims to describe patient experiences across treatment milestones, including expectations, satisfaction and attitudes among people initiated on injectable semaglutide for weight management.

 

Methods

OUTSTEP 1 is a multinational, observational, cross-sectional, time-series study collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Adults from Australia, Germany and Spain using injectable semaglutide for weight management in routine practice were categorised by time since treatment initiation. This interim analysis includes completed quantitative surveys from ~20% of the planned patient cohort (~2000 patients) reporting on demographics, comorbidities, expectations, satisfaction, attitudes/behaviours and prescriber type.

 

Results

Interim data were available from 389 respondents in Germany (n=226) and Australia (n=163). Common comorbidities included type 2 diabetes and hypertension (37% each), depression (24%) and anxiety (20%). At treatment initiation, the most frequently reported expectations were weight loss (WL) (79%), control of cravings (50%), reduced hunger (50%), improved physical appearance (47%) and improved quality of life (44%). Satisfaction with treatment gains was consistently high (~75–80%) across WL, hunger reduction, craving control, reduced food-related thoughts, physical appearance, mobility, psychological health and quality of life. 78% of respondents reported satisfaction with their overall experience. Most respondents agreed that weight management was entirely their responsibility (83%), that lifestyle modification had become easier since starting injectable semaglutide (79%), and that diet and exercise changes were necessary alongside semaglutide to achieve weight-loss goals (88%). Primary care physicians were the most common prescribers for obesity management (52%).

 

Conclusion

This interim analysis suggests that people using injectable semaglutide report high satisfaction across outcomes extending beyond weight loss, including lifestyle modification and psychological wellbeing. The findings also highlight the substantial role of primary care in obesity pharmacotherapy.