Clinical outcomes associated with drugs for obesity and overweight: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Iannone A, Natale P, Palmer SC, Nicolucci A, Rendina M, Giorgino F, Laviola L, Di Leo A, Strippoli GFM

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism31 May 2023Cited by 22 (Europe PMC)

PMID37254688DOI10.1111/dom.15138PepBankPUB-37254688

Publisher page 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-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide gave a mean 9.02 kg greater weight loss than placebo at 12 months in a network meta-analysis.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide led to clearly more weight loss than placebo at 12 months.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight loss at 12 months versus placebo
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 12 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference in weight
−9.02 kg
semaglutide vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
All drugs were associated with greater weight loss at 12 months than placebo (33 trials, 37 616 participants), mainly semaglutide (mean difference [MD], -9.02 kg [95% CI: -10.42, -7.63]
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-3725468801
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide gave a mean 7.84 cm greater waist circumference reduction than placebo at 12 months in a network meta-analysis.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide led to a larger waist reduction than placebo at 12 months.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWaist circumference reduction at 12 months versus placebo
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 12 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean difference in waist circumference
−7.84 cm
semaglutide vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
greater waist circumference reduction at 12 months than placebo (24 trials, 35 733 participants), mainly semaglutide (MD, -7.84 cm [95% CI: -9.34, -6.34]
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-3725468802
03HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide was associated with lower or no difference in the odds of treatment withdrawal compared with all other drugs.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, semaglutide had lower or similar odds of treatment withdrawal compared with the other weight-loss drugs.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
MixedTreatment withdrawal
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
All other weight-management drugs
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Semaglutide and phentermine/topiramate were associated with lower or no difference in the odds of treatment withdrawal compared with all other drugs (87 trials, 70 860 participants).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-3725468803

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide.

04HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, there was no evidence that approved weight-management drugs differed in association with cardiovascular death.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, approved weight-loss drugs did not clearly differ in their link to cardiovascular death.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeCardiovascular death across approved drugs
Study
n = 59,037
Comparator
Other weight-management drugs
Outcome group
Cardiovascular events · Cardiovascular
Source sentences
Summary
There was no evidence that drugs approved for weight management had different associations with cardiovascular death (69 trials, 59 037 participants).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
In this study, Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide.
Report a problemFND-3725468806
05HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, all weight-management drugs pooled were associated with greater weight loss than placebo at 12 months.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, all approved weight-loss drugs together led to more weight loss than placebo at 12 months.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss at 12 months, all approved drugs
Study
n = 37,616
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
All drugs were associated with greater weight loss at 12 months than placebo (33 trials, 37 616 participants)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
In this study, Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide.
Report a problemFND-3725468804
06HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity or overweight, all weight-management drugs pooled were associated with greater waist circumference reduction than placebo at 12 months.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity or overweight, all approved weight-loss drugs together led to more waist reduction than placebo at 12 months.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWaist circumference reduction at 12 months, all approved drugs
Study
n = 35,733
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
and with greater waist circumference reduction at 12 months than placebo (24 trials, 35 733 participants)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 168 trials (97 938 patients) were included.
In this study, Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide.
Report a problemFND-3725468805

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
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Keywords

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