In this observational study, Susanne Kuckuck and her team described changes in mental health and wellbeing after 4 months of treatment with liraglutide 3.0 mg in 98 patients with obesity. They also explored the relationship between these changes and weight loss. Mental health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and psychological wellbeing with the OBESI-Q questionnaire, both at baseline and after 4 months.

Results
Results showed a significant reduction in body weight (−5.8%). There were slight decreases in HADS total, depression, and anxiety scores, and an increase in psychological wellbeing scores. Improvements in mental health were mainly observed in patients who had poor mental health at the start. Weight loss occurred regardless of initial mental health status, suggesting that liraglutide can be an effective weight-loss treatment even for people struggling with mental well-being.

In conclusion, liraglutide treatment led to weight loss without negative effects on mental health. Mental health benefits were most notable in those with initially poor mental health, and weight loss was effective regardless of baseline mental health status.

Limitations
We note that this was an observational, real-world study. Although this study design gives valuable insights into the patients’ perspectives on mental health in a real-life treatment context, we cannot draw causal conclusions regarding the liraglutide treatment effect on mental health based on these data.

Clustered bar charts showing mean and SD at baseline and 4 months treatment with liraglutide 3.0 mg according to baselinemental health state. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 indicate the statistical significance of the change in anthropometrics and mental healthparameters over time, as assessed by generalized-least-squared (GLS) models.