Factors that determine patients considering medication for the disease of obesity: an IMI2 SOPHIA study
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Abstract
Objective: Obesity-related problems can now be managed with effective nutritional therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgeries that achieve >10% weight loss. Assessing patient preferences, treatment choices, and factors affecting patients can improve treatment compliance and efficacy. Our aim was to identify factors affecting patient preference and subsequent choice of pharmacotherapy among those seeking treatment for obesity-related disorders. Methods: A participatory action study using purposeful sampling recruited 33 patients with obesity complications. They were referred to specialist clinics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Sixteen males and seventeen females aged 18–70 years, with BMI > 35 kg/m 2 were recruited. Before the interview, participants watched a 60-minute video explaining nutritional therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgery in equipoise. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews; Reflective thematic analysis was used. This sub study focuses only on patients who expressed specific attitudes (positive or negative) towards pharmacotherapy. Results: Ten (30%) patients expressed a view on pharmacotherapy. Eight (24%) patients chose pharmacotherapy alone, whereas two (6%) patients chose pharmacotherapy combined with nutritional therapy. In this sub study focusing on pharmacotherapy, five themes were identified related to choosing whether or not to take medication: (1) attitudes towards pharmacotherapy, (2) attitudes toward size of obesity and its complications, (3) weighing the benefits and risks of treatment, (4) knowledge and reassurance of health professionals, and (5) costs associated with drug therapy. Conclusion: The primary concerns regarding pharmacotherapy for intentional weight loss were efficacy, side effects, lifelong dosing, pharmacokinetics, and cost. Providing access to information about all the pharmacotherapies and the benefits is likely to result in greater penetrance of treatment.
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Literature suggests that aligning with patients' preferences of attributes in treatment modalities increases the likelihood of patients persisting on therapy.
“Literature suggests that aligning with patients’ preferences of attributes in treatment modalities increases the likelihood of patients persisting on therapy10,11.”
From Orforglipron for maintenance of body weight reduction: the double-blind, randomized phase 3b ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial (2026) · cites this paper as [11]
The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that treatment attributes and patients’ preferences influence treatment choices, and it discusses beliefs that affect medication adherence. It does not establish that matching treatment attributes to preferences increases the likelihood of patients persisting on therapy. (LLM, conf=0.83)
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- Authors
- Craig, H. C., Alsaeed, D., Heneghan, H., Al-Najim, W., Al Ozairi, E., & le Roux, C. W.
- Affiliations
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Dasman Diabetes Institute (KW)
- Corresponding author
- Craig, H. C.
- Venue
- International Journal of Obesity
- Published
- 2024-05-01
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 397-401
- ISSN
- 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5497
- PMC
- PMC11971037
- OpenAlex
- W4396547540
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 4.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
- Irish Research eLibrary
- European Commission (HORIZON2020, 875534)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
- Keywords
- obesity, obesity pharmacotherapy, patient preferences, medication adherence, weight loss, nutritional therapy, bariatric surgery, treatment decision-making, attitudes toward medication, treatment costs
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Weight Loss, Anti-Obesity Agents, Young Adult, Patient Preference
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