Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Sun F, Sun F, Chai S, Li L, Yu K, Yang Z, Wu S, Zhang Y, Ji L, Zhan S

Journal of diabetes research20 Jan 2015Cited by 74 (Europe PMC)

PMID25688373PMCIDPMC4320855DOI10.1155/2015/157201PepBankPUB-25688373

Summary

To evaluate the effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on weight reduction in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM), a network meta-analysis was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from 1950 to October 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight. A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled. The mean duration of 51 RCTs was 31 weeks. Exenatide 10 μg twice daily (EX10BID) reduced weight compared with exenatide 5 μg twice daily (EX5BID), liraglutide 0.6 mg once daily (LIR0.6QD), liraglutide-1.2 mg once daily (LIR1.2QD), and placebo treatment, with mean differences of -1.07 kg (95% CI: -2.41, -0.02), -2.38 kg (95% CI: -3.71, -1.06), -1.62 kg (95% CI: -2.79, -0.43), and -1.92 kg (95% CI: -2.61, -1.24), respectively. Reductions of weight treated with liraglutide-1.8 mg once daily (LIR1.8QD) reach statistical significance (-1.43 kg (95% CI: -2.73, -0.15)) versus LIR1.2QD and (-0.98 kg (95% CI: -1.94, -0.02)) versus placebo. Network meta-analysis found that EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QW obtained a higher proportion of patients with weight loss than other traditional hypoglycemic agents. Our results suggest GLP-1 RAs are promising candidates for weight control in comparison with traditional hypoglycemic drugs, and EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QW rank the top three drugs.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, network meta-analysis found less weight reduction with liraglutide 0.6 mg once daily than with exenatide 10 ug twice daily (mean difference -2.38 kg).
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 0.6 mg once daily led to less weight loss than exenatide 10 ug twice daily.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseBody weight versus exenatide 10 ug twice daily
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Exenatide 10 ug twice daily
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.6 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference (exenatide minus liraglutide)
−2.38 kg
LIR0.6QD
Source sentences
Summary
Exenatide 10 μg twice daily (EX10BID) reduced weight compared with exenatide 5 μg twice daily (EX5BID), liraglutide 0.6 mg once daily (LIR0.6QD), liraglutide-1.2 mg once daily (LIR1.2QD), and placebo treatment, with mean differences of -1.07 kg (95% CI: -2.41, -0.02), -2.38 kg (95% CI: -3.71, -1.06), -1.62 kg (95% CI: -2.79, -0.43), and -1.92 kg (95% CI: -2.61, -1.24), respectively.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837301
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, network meta-analysis found less weight reduction with liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily than with exenatide 10 ug twice daily (mean difference -1.62 kg).
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily led to less weight loss than exenatide 10 ug twice daily.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseBody weight versus exenatide 10 ug twice daily
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Exenatide 10 ug twice daily
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
1.2 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference (exenatide minus liraglutide)
−1.62 kg
LIR1.2QD
Source sentences
Summary
Exenatide 10 μg twice daily (EX10BID) reduced weight compared with exenatide 5 μg twice daily (EX5BID), liraglutide 0.6 mg once daily (LIR0.6QD), liraglutide-1.2 mg once daily (LIR1.2QD), and placebo treatment, with mean differences of -1.07 kg (95% CI: -2.41, -0.02), -2.38 kg (95% CI: -3.71, -1.06), -1.62 kg (95% CI: -2.79, -0.43), and -1.92 kg (95% CI: -2.61, -1.24), respectively.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837302
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily reduced weight more than liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily (-1.43 kg).
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily led to more weight loss than liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight versus liraglutide 1.2 mg
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
1.8 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−1.43 kg
LIR1.8QD versus LIR1.2QD
Source sentences
Summary
Reductions of weight treated with liraglutide-1.8 mg once daily (LIR1.8QD) reach statistical significance (-1.43 kg (95% CI: -2.73, -0.15)) versus LIR1.2QD and (-0.98 kg (95% CI: -1.94, -0.02)) versus placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837303
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily reduced weight more than placebo (-0.98 kg).
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily led to more weight loss than placebo.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight versus placebo
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
1.8 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference
−0.98 kg
LIR1.8QD versus placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Reductions of weight treated with liraglutide-1.8 mg once daily (LIR1.8QD) reach statistical significance (-1.43 kg (95% CI: -2.73, -0.15)) versus LIR1.2QD and (-0.98 kg (95% CI: -1.94, -0.02)) versus placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837304
05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, network meta-analysis found a higher proportion of patients with weight loss with liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily than with traditional hypoglycemic agents.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, more patients lost weight with liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily than with traditional blood sugar drugs.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseProportion of patients with weight loss
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Traditional hypoglycemic agents
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
1.8 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Network meta-analysis found that EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QW obtained a higher proportion of patients with weight loss than other traditional hypoglycemic agents
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837305
06HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily ranked among the top three drugs for weight control in the network meta-analysis.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily ranked among the top three drugs for weight control.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
Not applicableRank for weight control
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Other GLP-1 RAs and traditional hypoglycemic drugs
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
1.8 mg once dailyAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
and EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QW rank the top three drugs.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight.
Summary · context
A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2568837306

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
12 Oct 2026, 12:10 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.

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