Nature Medicine Study of 8,000+ Women Finds Significant Weight Loss and 91% Treatment Retention With Digital GLP-1 Care
Research conducted in partnership with University College London examines personalised dosing, clinical monitoring and metabolic health outcomes in women receiving GLP-1 treatment
LONDON, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine found that women receiving GLP-1 medication through a structured digital healthcare programme developed by SheMed experienced significant weight loss, improvements in metabolic health and high treatment retention over six months.
The study, conducted in partnership with University College London (UCL) and led by Professor John Deanfield, examined 8,127 women receiving GLP-1 treatment through SheMed's UK-wide digital care programme. The findings provide new real-world evidence about how obesity treatment performs outside traditional clinical settings.
Among participants with six-month weight measurements, researchers reported an average weight reduction of 15.5%, equivalent to 16.1 kilograms (35.4 lb). More than 83% lost at least 10% of their starting body weight, while 91.4% of participants remained on treatment at six months.
The findings also showed improvements in metabolic health. Among participants with paired blood tests, 84.5% of those with diabetes-range blood glucose readings at baseline and 96.3% of those with prediabetes saw their HbA1c levels return to the normal range during treatment. Researchers also documented reductions in cholesterol levels.
The study provides a large, women-only dataset examining how GLP-1 medications perform in everyday clinical practice, where managing side effects, maintaining treatment and accessing ongoing medical support can present challenges.
Examining GLP-1 Treatment Beyond Clinical Trials
While clinical trials have established the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications for obesity, researchers continue to investigate how these therapies perform when prescribed and monitored outside controlled research settings.
SheMed's study, published in Nature Medicine, followed women aged 18 to 79 with an average starting body mass index (BMI) of 38.2. Participants received treatment through SheMed's fully remote care model, which combines:
- Weekly video check-ins with trained staff
- Mandatory monthly health monitoring for prescription renewal
- Clinician-led medication adjustments based on individual response
- Structured support for managing treatment-related side effects
Unlike fixed medication-escalation schedules, SheMed clinicians individualised dosing based on patients' progress and tolerability. At six months, participants were receiving an average dose equivalent to approximately 63% of the maximum licensed dose, while achieving substantial weight reduction.
Nearly all participants received tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound.
"This study provides important real-world evidence about GLP-1 treatment in women, particularly the role of ongoing monitoring, individualised dosing and sustained patient engagement," said Rachael Joy, Chief Clinical Officer at SheMed and a co-author of the study. "The findings show meaningful improvements in weight and metabolic health across a large cohort, while highlighting why clinical oversight remains essential throughout treatment."
Treatment-related side effects were reported by 62.7% of participants, although researchers identified no serious treatment-related adverse events during the six-month study period.
Addressing Gaps in Women's Metabolic Health Research
The study focused exclusively on women, a population whose experiences with obesity treatment and metabolic health can differ across life stages. Researchers examined outcomes across a broad range of ages, starting weights and health backgrounds, providing insight into treatment outside the tightly controlled conditions of clinical trials.
The findings come as healthcare professionals face growing demand for GLP-1 medications and questions about how to deliver appropriate prescribing, monitoring and long-term patient support at scale.
"Women have historically faced significant gaps in healthcare research and access to personalised treatment," said Olivia Ferro, Co-Founder and CEO of SheMed. "We founded SheMed to build a more comprehensive approach to metabolic health, using a test-to-treat model that combines clinical oversight with ongoing support. This research is an important step toward understanding how that model performs in everyday practice and how we can continue improving care for women."
The study, Real-world, digital-first delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in women, was published in Nature Medicine on October 16, 2026.
Read the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04687-x
About SheMed
SheMed is a UK-based women's metabolic healthcare company founded by sisters Olivia and Chloe Ferro. Its digital healthcare platform combines clinical assessment, at-home diagnostics, clinician-led treatment and ongoing monitoring to provide personalised care for women. SheMed has served thousands of women across the UK.
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