Overview

• Using nationwide Danish registries, researchers tracked 77,310 adults without diabetes who started semaglutide between December 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023, finding 18% stopped by three months, 31% by six months, 42% by nine months and just over half by one year.
• Younger adults aged 18–29 were 48% more likely to discontinue than those 45–59, and residence in low‑income areas raised the odds of stopping by 14%.
• Prior use of gastrointestinal medications correlated with a 9% higher discontinuation rate, psychiatric medication history with 12% higher, cardiovascular or other chronic conditions with about 10% higher, and men were 12% more likely to stop than women.
• Researchers emphasize that benefits depend on sustained use, noting that appetite‑control effects are lost when treatment is stopped.
• Cost pressures appear substantial, with examples citing roughly €2,000 per year for low‑dose semaglutide and limited public reimbursement for weight loss in Denmark, while the study lacked patient‑level BMI, insurance or weight‑change data.