Factors associated with weight loss in people with overweight or obesity living with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Insights from the global DISCOVER study

Aims

To estimate real-world change in weight over 3 years and the factors influencing it in participants who are overweight and live with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

DISCOVER is a multinational prospective observational study that enrolled participants with type 2 diabetes between December 2014 and June 2016 at the time of initiation of a second-line glucose-lowering medication (GLM). Demographic, anthropometric, and quality-of-life data were collected at baseline, and after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of follow-up. Using a hierarchical, repeated-measures linear regression model, we examined factors associated with weight change over time.

Results

Of 10 675 participants with type 2 diabetes who were overweight/obese (mean age 57.1 ± 11.1 years, 46% women), 21% lost ≥5% weight over 3 years, which was associated with modestly improved physical and mental health. Advancing age, female sex, and higher baseline weight were associated with weight loss. Most importantly, the type of GLM prescribed at previous visit had the strongest impact on weight change over time independent of participant factors, with use of a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist associated with 1.0% weight loss versus a 0.6% weight gain with sulphonylureas, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides or insulin.

Conclusion

In this large contemporary prospective study, approximately one in five participants with early-stage type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity lost ≥5% weight over 3 years. The type of GLM has the most impact on weight loss over time, highlighting the need for a careful selection of agents that takes baseline weight into consideration.