Weight-Loss Pharmacotherapy Beyond Incretins: Patient Selection, Safety, and Real-World Decision-Making - Episode 4
Follow-up structure and objective thresholds for evaluating non-incretin therapy
In this segment, Dr Cristancho describes a pragmatic follow-up schedule and objective criteria—including early weight-loss benchmarks—to determine whether to continue, adjust, or discontinue non-incretin treatment.
Clinicians are advised to implement structured early follow-up—every 4 to 12 weeks—to evaluate weight trajectory, vitals, tolerability, and adverse events. Dr Cristancho emphasizes individualized lab monitoring based on the specific non-incretin agent and patient comorbidities.
A practical early-response threshold is ≥5% weight loss by about 12 to 16 weeks at a therapeutic dose. Lack of response should trigger reassessment of lifestyle behaviors, adherence, and dose adequacy, and may indicate a need to discontinue or switch therapy.
Dr Cristancho highlights that clinically meaningful improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors may warrant continuation even when weight reduction falls short of ideal targets. Decisions should integrate both weight and comorbidity outcomes rather than focusing on weight alone.
