Since 2019, the RIVM has been monitoring developments surrounding the Combined Lifestyle Intervention (GLI), a treatment for people with overweight and obesity. For the first time, the RIVM examined whether the use of weight-reducing medications affects the results of the GLI. Participants without these medications lost an average of slightly less weight (4.4%) than all participants (5%), including those who also used medications.
This small difference indicates that the GLI helps people lose weight, even without the use of medications. Of the participants, 12% use some form of weight-reducing medication (such as diabetes medication), but only 1% uses medications primarily aimed at weight loss (obesity medication). Therefore, there is still insufficient data to draw conclusions about the effects of combining GLI with those specific medications.
Since 2019, 121,000 residents of the Netherlands have participated in the GLI. They receive two years of guidance and advice on healthy eating, eating habits, and physical activity. The GLI is reimbursed under certain conditions by the basic health insurance.
Improvement in Quality of Life
The new report also shows that the quality of life significantly improved: it is 13 points higher than at the start of the GLI, on a scale of 0 (most unhealthy) to 100 (most healthy). The quality of life improved more for participants who lose more than 5% of their weight than for those who lose less weight (15 points higher versus 11 points higher than at the start). The use of weight-reducing medications does not affect this. The quality of life improves equally in groups with and without the use of these medications.
Next Publication in Spring 2025
The RIVM is monitoring the developments and results of the GLI on behalf of the Ministry of VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport).
In a subsequent report, due out in the spring of 2025, the RIVM will delve deeper into the reasons why people complete the GLI trajectory or stop it prematurely.