Efficacy and Safety of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss Among Adults Without Diabetes : A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Moiz A, Filion KB, Toutounchi H, Tsoukas MA, Yu OHY, Peters TM, Eisenberg MJ

Annals of internal medicine7 Jan 2025Cited by 93 (Europe PMC)

PMID39761578DOI10.7326/annals-24-01590PepBankPUB-39761578

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 study8

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, tirzepatide 15 mg once weekly reduced body weight by up to 17.8% versus placebo after 72 weeks (systematic review of RCTs).
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, tirzepatide led to up to 17.8% weight loss compared with placebo after 72 weeks.
Peptide
Tirzepatide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight loss up to 72 weeks
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
15 mg once weekly · 72 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Weight loss
≤ 17.8%
tirzepatide 15 mg once weekly, 72 weeks
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with placebo, tirzepatide (15 mg once weekly) resulted in weight loss of up to 17.8% (95% CI, 16.3% to 19.3%) after 72 weeks of therapy
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Placebo-controlled RCTs in otherwise healthy participants with overweight or obesity.
Report a problemFND-3976157801
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly reduced body weight by up to 13.9% versus placebo after 68 weeks (systematic review of RCTs).
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, semaglutide led to up to 13.9% weight loss compared with placebo after 68 weeks.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight loss up to 68 weeks
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Weight loss
≤ 13.9%
semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly, 68 weeks
Source sentences
Summary
semaglutide (2.4 mg once weekly), up to 13.9% (CI, 11.0% to 16.7%) after 68 weeks
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Placebo-controlled RCTs in otherwise healthy participants with overweight or obesity.
Report a problemFND-3976157802
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, retatrutide 12 mg once weekly produced weight loss of up to 22.1% (CI 19.3% to 24.9%) after 48 weeks (systematic review of placebo-controlled RCTs; no head-to-head trials were available).
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes, retatrutide led to up to 22.1% weight loss after 48 weeks, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Retatrutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody weight loss up to 48 weeks
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
12 mg once weekly · 48 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Weight loss
≤ 22.1%
retatrutide 12 mg once weekly, 48 weeks
Source sentences
Summary
Retatrutide (12 mg once weekly) produced greater weight loss of up to 22.1% (CI, 19.3% to 24.9%) after 48 weeks
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Compared with placebo, tirzepatide (15 mg once weekly) resulted in weight loss of up to 17.8% (95% CI, 16.3% to 19.3%) after 72 weeks of therapy; semaglutide (2.4 mg once weekly), up to 13.9% (CI, 11.0% to 16.7%) after 68 weeks; and liraglutide (3.0 mg once daily), up to 5.8% (CI, 3.6% to 8.0%) after 26 weeks.
Summary · context
Placebo-controlled RCTs in otherwise healthy participants with overweight or obesity.
Report a problemFND-3976157803
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, liraglutide 3.0 mg once daily led to weight loss of up to 5.8% versus placebo after 26 weeks in placebo-controlled trials.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, liraglutide caused up to 5.8% weight loss compared with placebo after 26 weeks.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg at 26 weeks
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
3.0 mg once daily · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Weight loss
5.8%
liraglutide 3.0 mg once daily, 26 weeks
Source sentences
Summary
Compared with placebo, tirzepatide (15 mg once weekly) resulted in weight loss of up to 17.8% (95% CI, 16.3% to 19.3%) after 72 weeks of therapy; semaglutide (2.4 mg once weekly), up to 13.9% (CI, 11.0% to 16.7%) after 68 weeks; and liraglutide (3.0 mg once daily), up to 5.8% (CI, 3.6% to 8.0%) after 26 weeks.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 26 RCTs comprising 15 491 participants (72% female; mean body mass index, 30 to 41 kg/m²; mean age, 34 to 57 years) and 12 agents (3 commercially available agents [liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide] and 9 premarket agents for long-term weight management) were included.
Report a problemFND-3976157804

Studies that did not test the peptide alone4

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.

05HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, adverse events occurred in 80% to 97% with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists versus 63% to 100% with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, pooled GLP-1 drugs and placebo both caused many side effects; ranges were 80% to 97% and 63% to 100%.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
Not applicableAny adverse events, pooled GLP-1 RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
Although AEs were frequent (GLP-1 RA vs. placebo: 80% to 97% vs. 63% to 100%)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 26 RCTs comprising 15 491 participants (72% female; mean body mass index, 30 to 41 kg/m²; mean age, 34 to 57 years) and 12 agents (3 commercially available agents [liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide] and 9 premarket agents for long-term weight management) were included.
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-3976157805
06HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in 47% to 84% with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists versus 13% to 63% with placebo, most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, pooled GLP-1 drugs caused more stomach and gut side effects than placebo, mostly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseGastrointestinal adverse events, pooled GLP-1 RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
the majority were gastrointestinal-related (47% to 84% vs. 13% to 63%, respectively), most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 26 RCTs comprising 15 491 participants (72% female; mean body mass index, 30 to 41 kg/m²; mean age, 34 to 57 years) and 12 agents (3 commercially available agents [liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide] and 9 premarket agents for long-term weight management) were included.
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-3976157806
07HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, adverse events requiring discontinuation occurred in 0% to 26% with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists versus 0% to 9% with placebo and were rare.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, side effects that made people stop pooled GLP-1 drugs were rare compared with placebo.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
Not applicableAdverse events requiring treatment discontinuation, pooled GLP-1 RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
AEs requiring treatment discontinuation (0% to 26% vs. 0% to 9%
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 26 RCTs comprising 15 491 participants (72% female; mean body mass index, 30 to 41 kg/m²; mean age, 34 to 57 years) and 12 agents (3 commercially available agents [liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide] and 9 premarket agents for long-term weight management) were included.
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-3976157807
08HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, serious adverse events occurred in 0% to 10% with pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists versus 0% to 12% with placebo and were rare.
In plain wordsIn adults with overweight or obesity, serious side effects were rare with pooled GLP-1 drugs and with placebo.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
Not applicableSerious adverse events, pooled GLP-1 RAs
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
and SAEs (0% to 10% vs. 0% to 12%, respectively) were rare.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 26 RCTs comprising 15 491 participants (72% female; mean body mass index, 30 to 41 kg/m²; mean age, 34 to 57 years) and 12 agents (3 commercially available agents [liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide] and 9 premarket agents for long-term weight management) were included.
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-3976157808

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.

Versions 5 to 40Current
28 Oct 2026, 02:04 UTC
The same notice was added 36 times, first on 9 Oct 2026, 19:08 UTC. The status did not change between them.
Study results updated
Versions 2 to 4
9 Oct 2026, 03:07 UTC
The same notice was added 3 times, first on 9 Oct 2026, 03:05 UTC. The status did not change between them.
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC