{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nEvidence directly comparing long-term pharmacological therapy and structured dietary intervention for obesity in Middle Eastern populations is limited. This study provides 12-month real-world comparative data from specialized obesity clinics in Baghdad, Iraq.Materials and methods\n\nA prospective cohort study included 120 adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) from June 2024 to June 2025. Participants received either pharmacological therapy (orlistat 120 mg three times daily or liraglutide 3.0 mg/day; n = 60) with standard lifestyle advice, or intensive individualized dietary counseling by board-certified dietitians (n = 60). The primary outcome was percentage weight loss at 12 months. Secondary outcomes assessed body composition, metabolic parameters, physical activity, adherence, adverse effects, and quality of life. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent t-tests with exact P values and 95% confidence intervals.Results\n\nAt 12 months, pharmacological therapy associated with greater early weight loss but reached a plateau (13.5 ± 3.7% vs. 11.3 ± 4.3%, P < 0.001; 95% CI: 1.1-2.8%). Dietary intervention associated with higher fat-mass loss (68.9% vs. 53.1%, P < 0.001), better lean-mass preservation (P = 0.003), and superior improvements in LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.012), fasting glucose (P = 0.047), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.041), and physical activity (P = 0.001). Adherence (73.3% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.038) and patient satisfaction (P < 0.001) were higher with diet, while gastrointestinal side effects were more common with pharmacotherapy (68.3% vs. 11.7%, P < 0.001).Conclusions\n\nIntensive dietary counseling yielded to superior long-term metabolic, behavioral, and patient-centered outcomes with better adherence, supporting its use as a first-line obesity treatment. Pharmacological therapy may be an adjunct for selected patients, highlighting the importance of structured, dietitian-led lifestyle programs within health systems.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Ibn Sina, University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baghdad, Iraq."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Duaa Mohammed Al-Atta"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sura Talal Kadhim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Monaf Faik Al-Samarraee"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3b399n517ap0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.4103/jehp.jehp_2134_25",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13690105",
  "id": "c3b399n517ap0",
  "issns": [
    "2277-9531",
    "2319-6440"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924324",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214995715",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13690105?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13690105",
  "pmid": "42924324",
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3b399n517ap0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:36Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42924324",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924324"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Pharmacological therapy and dietary intervention for obesity management: A one-year prospective cohort study in Baghdad.",
  "title_text": "Pharmacological therapy and dietary intervention for obesity management: A one-year prospective cohort study in Baghdad.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:36Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3b399n517ap0",
  "venue": "Journal of education and health promotion",
  "versions": []
}