Exploring real‑world experiences of how new weight‑loss medicines affect people’s daily lives, helping to shape more person‑centred, effective and equitable weight‑management services and inform future policy and clinical guidance.
Why is the research needed?
New weight loss medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, are changing what is possible in obesity care. These treatments can lead to substantial weight loss and improvements in health, but there is still limited understanding of how people experience them in everyday life.
Most research has focused on clinical outcomes but do not capture how treatments affect appetite, eating behaviour, wellbeing, and daily routines. Early evidence suggests that experiences can vary widely between individuals, including both benefits and challenges.
There is also a lack of research capturing the perspectives of people from diverse and under-represented communities. Without this, there is a risk that services may not meet the needs of all groups and could widen health inequalities.
What are we doing?
We aim to understand how people experience taking new weight loss medications in real life and how this information can be used to inform future support, research and policy.
This is a mixed methods study combining focus groups, interviews, and an anonymous online survey. We have also conducted focus groups with people currently using these medications and those who have stopped. These discussions explored day-to-day experiences, including changes in appetite, eating behaviour, wellbeing, and social life.
A national online survey has also been completed, capturing information on diet, wellbeing, eating behaviour, and treatment experiences.
The study is now moving into a detailed analysis phase, bringing together qualitative and quantitative findings to build a comprehensive understanding of lived experience.
How are we working with communities, services and organisations?
This study has been designed and delivered in partnership with people who have lived experience of using these medications. Public contributors have been involved throughout the research process, including shaping the study design, reviewing participant materials, and contributing to interpretation of findings.
We are also working with community organisations to support inclusive recruitment and ensure a diverse range of perspectives are represented. This approach helps ensure the research remains relevant, inclusive, and grounded in real-world experience.
What will the impact and benefits of this research be?
AMPLIFY will provide a detailed understanding of how people experience these medications in real life. Early insights suggest that these treatments can significantly affect appetite and eating behaviour, often reducing “food noise”, but that experiences vary widely. Some people report substantial benefits, while others face challenges including side effects, emotional changes, cost, and difficulties maintaining outcomes after stopping treatment.
The findings will help inform the design of more effective, person-centred, and equitable weight management services. This includes improving nutritional and behavioural support alongside medication and ensuring services are responsive to diverse populations.
The study will also contribute to policy and clinical guidance in this rapidly evolving area.
What do we have planned for knowledge mobilisation and implementation?
A range of outputs will be developed to ensure findings are accessible and useful for different audiences.
These include plain language summaries for the public, reports for clinicians and policymakers, and peer-reviewed academic publications. Public engagement activities are also planned, including dissemination through the Cambridge Festival.
Findings will be shared with stakeholders across healthcare, research, and policy to support translation into practice, particularly in relation to the design of services and support alongside medication use.
Related papers, outputs and resources
Planned outputs include peer-reviewed publications, plain language summaries, stakeholder reports, and public engagement activities.
In addition, you can:
Read the related paper titled, 'Nutrition Strategies for Next-Generation Incretin Therapies: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Current Evidence'
Read the related Independent article
Who is involved?
- Principal Investigator: Dr Marie Spreckley, University of Cambridge
- Professor Amy Ahern, University of Cambridge
- Ken Clare, Obesity Voices
- Dr Julia Mueller, University of Cambridge
- Prof Louisa Ells, Leeds Beckett University
- Dr Adrian Brown, University College London
- Dr Cara Ruggiero, University of Cambridge
- Pamela Mungroo, University of Cambridge
- Tala Al Ajmi, University of Cambridge
Get in contact
Email Marie Spreckley at marie.spreckley@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk.
