Oral GLP-1 drug yields comparable weight loss before, during, and after menopause
New analyses presented at EASD examined orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, in women with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes. Across premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal groups, participants taking the drug had similar body weight reductions of up to 14%. Waist circumference also fell by as much as 12.5 cm in the treated groups over 72 weeks.
The findings come from analyses of two trials, ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Milan. ATTAIN-1 enrolled adults with excess weight but no diabetes, while ATTAIN-2 included those with diabetes as well. Orforglipron is an oral, small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly.
In women meeting BMI criteria for overweight or obesity, treatment groups across pre-, peri-, and postmenopause showed comparable weight loss, reaching about 14% over 72 weeks. Waist circumference dropped by as much as 12.5 cm. Up to 83% of treated women lost at least 5% of body weight, compared with 30% on placebo, and more shifted into lower waist-to-height ratio categories.
If these results hold, an oral GLP-1 option could broaden weight-management choices for women across menopausal stages, a group whose obesity risk may rise with estrogen decline. Easier daily dosing may improve access for those who prefer pills to injections, though cost, supply, and long-term safety remain uncertain. Clinicians and patients may weigh benefits against uncertainties, while health systems could face growing demand for obesity care.