Semaglutide: Can weight loss ease knee osteoarthritis pain?

Hello everyone,

How are you doing today?

Living with knee osteoarthritis can make even the simplest activities, like walking or climbing stairs, painful and difficult, especially for people with obesity. A new study has found promising results for a medication called semaglutide (often known for its role in weight loss and diabetes management) in helping to reduce weight and knee pain for people with obesity and moderate knee OA.

Here’s what the study uncovered:

• Over 68 weeks, participants who took once-weekly semaglutide injections lost an average of 13.7% of their body weight, compared to 3.2% in the placebo group.
• Pain levels, measured on a standard scale, improved significantly more in the semaglutide group.
• Participants also reported better physical function and overall well-being, meaning they could move more easily and felt better in day-to-day life.
• While some participants did experience mild side effects, like gastrointestinal discomfort, the overall findings were encouraging.

Let’s talk about it:

How do you feel about weight-loss medications being explored as a way to improve OA symptoms?

What steps have you taken (or considered) to manage weight and ease joint pain?

@Khalid @Charlene @Carvetty @marlajf @Pamela63 @CelticLady19* @uncleanatol @Kevjh70 @Tammon71 @Melissa196060 @jacquiblu2 @Joliemh @DinaNash @MountainMan @Pixiestyx @briley1710 @Youngnana17 @Lruesch05 @debbie75 @Lovelylaine @Mysti1 @HollyHay @RBO0813 @Elliep @dhann5 @MerlinSage @LJNMSW @Marebear @RuSaved1 @Kenneth2002 @PattiMckeown @Margaret @Sexycar @Lmg21532 @Adouet123 @Izzynic @Msmothers72 @Carmina @Heath0206 @Sans5127 @Deandrea @Samatha_lea @Mamawgriffin06 @Remlisae @Heylady2638 @booneh57 @Momteach55 @Wendizell63!$ @Fonelady @Alwayssick62 @BrendaSue @Elbrn! @chrisg0116_2 @Kellzg39 @Nadinesue @Dturner10000 @Frankiec66 @CUTRONA8 @Eaglin1990 @Lukecm80 @Sercsw @reneefullmer3126 @coastergal1 @Peggyhines @Maxie97 @BlaqueSapphyre @tsclegg @Vstinnitt @Lemoncat @tammybarnhill @Tiff1009 @Dyannabuckles @Crystine @SusanL @Flaime @Purplechick182 @elizabethowens1972 @Davidd @mrscobb09 @Eirwin0237 @Dyoder2008 @Allieb @Jandokey @jonmcdermott @LynneRhodes @macccarrigan @JohnScott @Keilisha0928 @Jerrilynn35 @Marine2681 @Wendyc @pmclmn @Chelle53 @NitaLott @eddiejazz @marthanne @Katurek 

We’d love to hear your experiences, thoughts, and questions on this topic!

Take care,
Somya from the Carenity team 🌼

Source: Bliddal, H., Bays, H., Czernichow, S., Uddén Hemmingsson, J., Hjelmesæth, J., Hoffmann Morville, T., ... & Kristensen, L. E. (2024). Once-weekly semaglutide in persons with obesity and knee osteoarthritis. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(17), 1573-1583.