Improvements in health‐related quality of life with liraglutide 3.0 mg compared with placebo in weight management

Obesity has a negative impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes study investigated the effect of liraglutide 3.0 mg, as adjunct to diet and exercise, on HRQoL in patients with obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg m(−2)] or overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg m(−2)) with comorbidity. Participants were advised on a 500 kcal d(−1) deficit diet and a 150‐min week(−1) exercise programme and were randomised 2:1 to once‐daily subcutaneous liraglutide 3.0 mg or placebo. HRQoL was assessed using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite (IWQOL‐Lite) and Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36) v2 health questionnaires. Individuals on liraglutide 3.0 mg (n = 2046) had significantly greater improvements in IWQOL‐Lite total score (10.6 ± 13.3) vs. placebo (n = 1020) (7.7 ± 12.8) and SF‐36 physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores (PCS, 3.6 ± 6.8; MCS, 0.2 ± 8.1) vs. placebo (PCS, 2.2 ± 7.7; MCS, −0.9 ± 9.1). The estimated treatment differences were IWQOL‐Lite total score 3.1 (95% CI: 2.2; 4.0), P < 0.0001; SF‐36 PCS 1.7 (95% CI: 1.2; 2.2), P < 0.0001 and MCS 0.9 (95% CI: 0.3; 1.5), P = 0.003. All subscales of the IWQOL‐Lite and SF‐36 were significantly improved with liraglutide 3.0 mg vs. placebo. More patients on liraglutide 3.0 mg experienced meaningful improvement on the IWQOL‐Lite total (P < 0.0001) and the SF‐36 PCS (P < 0.0001) scores.