Semaglutide use for hypothalamic obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus after suprasellar germinoma treatment.

Yokota K, Nakagawa T, Nakamura Y, Okada N, Kusuda S, Sone M

JCEM case reports18 May 2026

PMID42158165PMCIDPMC13180639DOI10.1210/jcemcr/luag107PepBankPUB-42158165

Summary

Hypothalamic obesity (HO) is a severe complication of suprasellar tumors characterized by hyperphagia, rapid weight gain, and resistance to lifestyle interventions. We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Subsequently, she experienced progressive weight gain, increasing from 57 kg to a peak of 138 kg by age 37 years, and developed type 2 diabetes mellitus at age 28 years. At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²). Intensive insulin therapy (up to 100 units/day) resolved glucotoxicity. After initiation of semaglutide (titrated from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/week), appetite markedly decreased, and subsequent weight loss was achieved. Three months after discharge, her weight decreased from 131 kg to 112.1 kg, representing an approximate 14% reduction, accompanied by optimized glycemic control. Body composition analysis revealed that weight loss was primarily due to fat mass reduction with relative preservation of muscle mass. This case demonstrates the potential efficacy of semaglutide in patients with HO and type 2 diabetes mellitus after suprasellar germinoma treatment.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a woman with hypothalamic obesity and type 2 diabetes after suprasellar germinoma treatment, body weight fell from 131 kg to 112.1 kg (about 14%) after starting semaglutide.
In plain wordsIn one woman with hypothalamic obesity and diabetes, weight fell by about 14% after she started semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight change
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.25 to 0.5 mg/week · 3 months after dischargeAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Body weight
131 kg
before
Body weight
112.1 kg
3 months after discharge
Weight reduction
≈ 14%
approximate
Source sentences
Summary
Three months after discharge, her weight decreased from 131 kg to 112.1 kg, representing an approximate 14% reduction, accompanied by optimized glycemic control.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Summary · context
At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4215816501
02HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a woman with hypothalamic obesity, appetite markedly decreased after semaglutide was started.
In plain wordsIn one woman with hypothalamic obesity, appetite dropped markedly after she started semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseAppetite
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.25 to 0.5 mg/weekAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
After initiation of semaglutide (titrated from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/week), appetite markedly decreased, and subsequent weight loss was achieved.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Summary · context
At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4215816502
03HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a woman with type 2 diabetes after suprasellar germinoma treatment, weight loss on semaglutide was accompanied by optimized glycemic control.
In plain wordsIn one woman with diabetes, blood sugar control improved alongside weight loss after she started semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Direction not reportedGlycemic control
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.25 to 0.5 mg/week · 3 months after dischargeAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
accompanied by optimized glycemic control.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Summary · context
At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4215816503
04HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a woman with hypothalamic obesity, body composition analysis showed that weight loss on semaglutide was primarily due to fat mass reduction.
In plain wordsIn one woman with hypothalamic obesity, most of the weight lost on semaglutide was fat.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseFat mass
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.25 to 0.5 mg/weekAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Body composition analysis revealed that weight loss was primarily due to fat mass reduction with relative preservation of muscle mass.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Summary · context
At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4215816504
05HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a woman with hypothalamic obesity, muscle mass was relatively preserved during weight loss on semaglutide.
In plain wordsIn one woman with hypothalamic obesity, muscle mass was largely kept while she lost weight on semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeMuscle mass
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.25 to 0.5 mg/weekAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
with relative preservation of muscle mass.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We describe a case of a woman diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 16 years of age who was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Summary · context
At age 38 years, she presented with polydipsia, polyuria, and fatigue, and was admitted for the management of hyperglycemia with class III obesity (123.5 kg; body mass index [BMI], 51.4 kg/m²).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4215816505

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Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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