What was studied?
Participants first received semaglutide during a 20-week run-in. Those reaching the study maintenance exposure were then randomized to continue or switch to placebo for a further 48 weeks, with lifestyle intervention in both groups.
What did the researchers report?
Continued treatment led to further average weight loss, while the group switched to placebo regained weight over the randomized phase. The comparison starts after the run-in, not at the original untreated baseline.
What are the limits?
Randomized participants were selected by completing the initial phase, so results do not describe every person who starts treatment. This design is distinct from the STEP 1 post-treatment extension already in the library. Neither establishes a permanent effect after withdrawal or catalog-material equivalence.
Original editorial summary by Sulan Peptide. Based on the source abstract; consult the full paper for methods, analyses, funding and disclosures.