Susanne Kuckuck1, Mariëtte Boon2, Elisabeth van Rossum3
(1) Department of Internal Medicine and Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Background:
Obesity is commonly associated with mental health issues, including symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as impaired psychological wellbeing. The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue liraglutide is effective in promoting weight loss, but its impact on mental health outcomes has not been fully explored in patients with obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of liraglutide on mental health and psychological wellbeing in patients with obesity, as well as potential associations between weight loss and changes in mental health parameters.
Methods:
We evaluated 83 patients with obesity (77% women) treated with liraglutide. At baseline (T0) and after 17 weeks of treatment with the highest tolerable dose (T1) mental health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (‘HADS’, range 0-42 for total score, 0-21 for subscales of anxiety and depression). Psychological well-being was evaluated via the OBESI-Q questionnaire (range 10-40, at both time points). We also assessed body weight and body mass index (BMI).
Results:
After liraglutide, body weight (-7.1 ±5 kg) and BMI (-2.4 ±2 kg/m2) were significantly reduced, along with a reduction in waist circumference (-4.5 ±9 cm), all p<0.001. We saw significant decreases in the HADS total score (-2 ±5, p<0.05) and anxiety score (-1.8 ±3, p<0.05). The HADS depression score decreased in trend (-1 ±3, p<0.1). Psychological wellbeing increased significantly (+2 ±6, p<0.01). Notably, changes in all mental health parameters tended to correlate with changes in BMI and waist circumference (all p<0.1).
Conclusion:
In patients with obesity, we observed significant improvements in mental health and psychological well-being after 17 weeks of liraglutide treatment at the highest tolerable dose. Those changes were paralleled by the changes in BMI and waist circumference, suggesting that the improvements are at least partly mediated by weight loss.