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

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, 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 provide a confidence boost to patients, 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 behavioural 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.