Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on weight loss: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

Vilsbøll T, Christensen M, Junker AE, Knop FK, Gluud LL

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)10 Jan 2012Cited by 672 (Europe PMC)

PMID22236411PMCIDPMC3256253DOI10.1136/bmj.d7771PepBankPUB-22236411

Read at source PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study12

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone12

In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Liraglutide.

01HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In overweight or obese adults, pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) produced greater weight loss than control treatments.
In plain wordsIn overweight or obese adults, GLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, led to more weight loss than control treatments.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss versus control
Study
n = 6,411
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Weighted mean difference in weight
−2.9 kg
GLP-1R agonists vs control
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1R agonist groups achieved a greater weight loss than control groups (weighted mean difference -2.9 kg, 95% confidence interval -3.6 to -2.2; 21 trials, 6411 participants).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641101
02HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In people without type 2 diabetes, pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) reduced body weight.
In plain wordsIn people without diabetes, GLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, led to weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss in patients without diabetes
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Weight change
−3.2 kg
patients without diabetes
Source sentences
Summary
We recorded weight loss in the GLP-1R agonist groups for patients without diabetes (-3.2 kg, -4.3 to -2.1; three trials)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641102
03HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In people with type 2 diabetes, pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) reduced body weight.
In plain wordsIn people with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, led to weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss in patients with diabetes
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Weight change
−2.8 kg
patients with diabetes
Source sentences
Summary
as well as patients with diabetes (-2.8 kg, -3.4 to -2.3; 18 trials).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641103
04HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) had a beneficial effect on systolic blood pressure.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, had a beneficial effect on systolic blood pressure.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseSystolic blood pressure
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Blood pressure · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
In the overall analysis, GLP-1R agonists had beneficial effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641104
05HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) had a beneficial effect on diastolic blood pressure.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, had a beneficial effect on diastolic blood pressure.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseDiastolic blood pressure
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Blood pressure · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
In the overall analysis, GLP-1R agonists had beneficial effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641105
06HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) had a beneficial effect on plasma cholesterol concentrations.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, had a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreasePlasma cholesterol
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
In the overall analysis, GLP-1R agonists had beneficial effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma concentrations of cholesterol
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641106
07HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) had a beneficial effect on glycaemic control.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, had a beneficial effect on blood sugar control.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseGlycaemic control
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
In the overall analysis, GLP-1R agonists had beneficial effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma concentrations of cholesterol, and glycaemic control
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641107
08HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) had no significant effect on plasma liver enzyme concentrations.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, had no significant effect on liver enzyme levels.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changePlasma liver enzymes
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Source sentences
Summary
but did not have a significant effect on plasma concentrations of liver enzymes.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641108
09HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) were associated with nausea.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, were linked to nausea.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseNausea
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1R agonists were associated with nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, but not with hypoglycaemia.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641109
10HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) were associated with diarrhoea.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, were linked to diarrhoea.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseDiarrhoea
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1R agonists were associated with nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, but not with hypoglycaemia.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641110
11HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) were associated with vomiting.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, were linked to vomiting.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseVomiting
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1R agonists were associated with nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, but not with hypoglycaemia.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641111
12HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Pooled GLP-1R agonists (including liraglutide) were not associated with hypoglycaemia.
In plain wordsGLP-1R drugs as a group, including liraglutide, were not linked to low blood sugar.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeHypoglycaemia
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo, oral antidiabetic drugs, or insulin
Outcome group
Adverse events · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1R agonists were associated with nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, but not with hypoglycaemia.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Review methods Randomised controlled trials of adult participants with a body mass index of 25 or higher; with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus; and who received exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, or liraglutide once daily at clinically relevant doses for at least 20 weeks.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-2223641112

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:05 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.