Healthline Reports nference Study of Sustained Low-Dose GLP-1 Use: About 5.5% Weight Loss at 12 Months on Low-Dose Tirzepatide and 2.2% on Low-Dose Semaglutide
Healthline reported on Friday, September 18, 2026 on a study by nference researchers, including Venky Soundararajan, published August 31 in Biology Methods & Protocols. The study followed 1,016 people who stayed on 2.5 mg tirzepatide for at least six months and 814 who took at least three 0.25 mg semaglutide doses over at least six months; at 12 months, weight loss averaged about 5.5% and 2.2%, respectively. At 24 months, people on sustained low-dose semaglutide had lower rates of constipation (23.3% vs 36.3%), nausea (39.7% vs 50.1%), and low blood pressure (1.7% vs 5.4%) than people on higher doses. Mir Ali, MD, of MemorialCare told Healthline that most patients will need some dose escalation to keep losing weight, and the article noted that dosing outside approved schedules is not FDA- or manufacturer-approved.