Skip to content

Study · Observational study · n = 12 · 2026

6 results

Efficacy and safety of semaglutide for obesity and hyperphagia in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Ahmed S, Bridges N, Goldstone AP

Frontiers in endocrinology3 Sept 2026

PMID42755517 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13581520 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3389/fendo.2026.1881392 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42755517
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 6 results

Summary

ContextPrader-Willi syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia and early-onset obesity from hypothalamic dysfunction with endocrinopathies and learning disability. Management is challenging with strict control of the food environment needed. While newer glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have efficacy in non-PWS obesity, there have been limited case reports in PWS.Objective/design/settingRetrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.PatientsMean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.InterventionMedian follow-up 17.2 months (range 8.7-36.1) with median semaglutide dose 2.4mg once weekly (1.0-2.4).ResultsThere was no significant overall weight loss on semaglutide, but there was stabilisation of the weight gain prior to treatment over previous 12.4 months (7.6-23.0): post -3.1 ± 9.9% vs. pre +5.7 ± 5.6%: d -0.72, P = 0.037. There was a significant decrease in hyperphagia on semaglutide from Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (n=11, -7.3 ± 6.1 (max 36), d -1.19, P = 0.003), having been stable before treatment. HbA1c improved in those with elevated baseline levels (n=6, -4.2 ± 4.9%, d -0.74, P = 0.13). Mild gastrointestinal side effects were seen in 25% but did not lead to discontinuation.ConclusionsIn this small open-label, observational cohort of adults with PWS, semaglutide produced weight maintenance though not weight loss, but appeared to reduce hyperphagia, and improved glycaemic control, with good tolerability. Larger placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings in adults and adolescents with PWS, especially in those without T2DM, where efficacy may be greater.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome and obesity, semaglutide produced no significant overall weight loss.

    In plain wordsIn adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, semaglutide did not lead to significant weight loss overall.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeOverall weight loss
    Study

    n = 12

    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There was no significant overall weight loss on semaglutide, but there was stabilisation of the weight gain prior to treatment over previous 12.4 months (7.6-23.0): post -3.1 ± 9.9% vs. pre +5.7 ± 5.6%: d -0.72, P = 0.037.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  2. 02HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, weight change on semaglutide (-3.1%) differed from the weight gain before treatment (+5.7%), a stabilisation.

    In plain wordsIn adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, weight stopped rising on semaglutide compared with the period before treatment.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseStabilisation of pre-treatment weight gain
    Study

    n = 12

    Comparator
    Pre-treatment period
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Weight change post-treatment
    −3.1%
    on semaglutide
    Weight change pre-treatment
    5.7%
    before semaglutide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but there was stabilisation of the weight gain prior to treatment over previous 12.4 months (7.6-23.0): post -3.1 ± 9.9% vs. pre +5.7 ± 5.6%: d -0.72, P = 0.037.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  3. 03HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome on semaglutide, mild gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 25%.

    In plain wordsIn adults with Prader-Willi syndrome on semaglutide, one in four had mild stomach or gut side effects.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Not applicableGastrointestinal side effects
    Study

    n = 12

    Outcome group
    Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Mild GI side effects
    25%
    cohort

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Mild gastrointestinal side effects were seen in 25% but did not lead to discontinuation.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  4. 04HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome on semaglutide, mild gastrointestinal side effects did not lead to discontinuation.

    In plain wordsIn adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, mild stomach or gut side effects did not lead anyone to stop semaglutide.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeDiscontinuation due to side effects
    Study

    n = 12

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but did not lead to discontinuation.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  5. 05HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, semaglutide significantly decreased hyperphagia scores, which were stable before treatment.

    In plain wordsIn adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, excessive hunger scores fell significantly on semaglutide compared with before treatment.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseHyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials score
    Study

    n = 11

    Comparator
    Pre-treatment period
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Hyperphagia score change
    −7.3 points
    semaglutide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There was a significant decrease in hyperphagia on semaglutide from Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (n=11, -7.3 ± 6.1 (max 36), d -1.19, P = 0.003), having been stable before treatment.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  6. 06HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome and elevated baseline HbA1c, the HbA1c reduction on semaglutide was not statistically significant (P = 0.13).

    In plain wordsIn six adults with Prader-Willi syndrome and high HbA1c, HbA1c fell on semaglutide but the change was not statistically significant.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeHbA1c in participants with elevated baseline
    Study

    n = 6

    Outcome group
    Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    median 2.4 mg once weekly (range 1.0-2.4) · median follow-up 17.2 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    HbA1c change
    −4.2%
    elevated baseline

    Source sentences

    Summary
    HbA1c improved in those with elevated baseline levels (n=6, -4.2 ± 4.9%, d -0.74, P = 0.13).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
    Summary · context
    Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.