The Weight-loss Effect of GLP-1RAs Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Non-diabetic Individuals with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Liu Y, Ruan B, Jiang H, Le S, Liu Y, Ao X, Huang Y, Shi X, Xue R, Fu X, Wang S

The American journal of clinical nutrition8 Aug 2023Cited by 79 (Europe PMC)

PMID37661106DOI10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.04.017PepBankPUB-37661106

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: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, semaglutide was the most effective GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss in this meta-analysis, with high to moderate GRADE certainty.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, semaglutide looked like the most effective GLP-1 drug for weight loss compared with the other GLP-1 drugs.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight-loss efficacy ranking among GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Other GLP-1RAs
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
High to moderate GRADE certainty of evidence suggested semaglutide as the most effective GLP-1RA agent, with the best efficacy and low to moderate risk of adverse effects.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants were included.
Report a problemFND-3766110608
02HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In this meta-analysis, semaglutide had a low to moderate risk of adverse effects.
In plain wordsIn this review, semaglutide was rated as having a low to moderate risk of side effects.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Direction not reportedRisk of adverse effects
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
High to moderate GRADE certainty of evidence suggested semaglutide as the most effective GLP-1RA agent, with the best efficacy and low to moderate risk of adverse effects.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants were included.
Report a problemFND-3766110609

Studies that did not test the peptide alone7

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.

03HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced body weight by a mean 5.319 kg versus controls.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, GLP-1 drugs as a group lowered body weight more than controls did.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Controls
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Mean difference
−5.319 kg
body weight
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with controls, GLP-1RAs significantly reduced BW (MD -5.319 kg, 95% CI: -6.465, -4.174)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110601
04HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced body mass index by a mean 2.373 kg/m2 versus controls.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, GLP-1 drugs as a group lowered body mass index more than controls did.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody mass index, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Controls
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Mean difference
−2.373 kg/m2
BMI
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with controls, GLP-1RAs significantly reduced BW (MD -5.319 kg, 95% CI: -6.465, -4.174), BMI (MD -2.373 kg/m², 95% CI: -2.821, -1.924), WC (MD -4.302 cm, CI:-5.185 to -3.419), WHR (MD -0.011, CI -0.015 to -0.007), but not TBF (MD -0.320%, CI -1.420 to -0.780).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110602
05HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced waist circumference by a mean 4.302 cm versus controls.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, GLP-1 drugs as a group reduced waist size more than controls did.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWaist circumference, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Controls
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Mean difference
−4.302 cm
waist circumference
Source sentences
Summary
WC (MD -4.302 cm, CI:-5.185 to -3.419)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110603
06HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced waist-to-hip ratio by a mean 0.011 versus controls.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, GLP-1 drugs as a group lowered waist-to-hip ratio slightly more than controls did.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWaist-to-hip ratio, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Controls
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Mean difference
−0.011
waist-to-hip ratio
Source sentences
Summary
WHR (MD -0.011, CI -0.015 to -0.007)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110604
07HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists did not significantly change total body fat versus controls.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, GLP-1 drugs as a group did not clearly change total body fat compared with controls.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeTotal body fat, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Controls
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
Mean difference
−0.32%
total body fat
Source sentences
Summary
but not TBF (MD -0.320%, CI -1.420 to -0.780).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110605
08HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Across pooled GLP-1 receptor agonist trials, the dose-response relationship with weight loss was nonlinear.
In plain wordsAcross trials of GLP-1 drugs as a group, more drug did not give a straight-line increase in weight loss.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Not applicableDose-response relationship with weight loss, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
GLP-1RAs had nonlinear dose-response relationships with weight loss.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110606
09HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Trial sequential analysis supported conclusive evidence of the effects of pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists on body weight, body mass index and waist circumference.
In plain wordsA statistical check found the evidence for GLP-1 drugs as a group on weight, BMI and waist size was conclusive.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Not applicableTrial sequential analysis of weight outcomes, pooled GLP-1RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
Trial sequential analysis (TSA) supported conclusive evidence of the effects of GLP-1RAs on BW, BMI, and WC for weight loss.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-one trials involving 15,135 participants 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-3766110607

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

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