Skip to content

Study · Systematic review · 2025

5 results

Pharmacological interventions for addressing pediatric and adolescent obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Yang S, Xin S, Ju R, Zang P

PloS one27 Feb 2025Cited by 14 (Europe PMC)

PMID40014613 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11867386 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0314787 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40014613
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 5 results

Summary

BackgroundObesity significantly impacts the health outcomes of children and adolescents, necessitating a comprehensive study to evaluate the effects of various anti-obesity medications (AOMs) on weight-related and metabolic outcomes.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024. We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat. The study evaluated body mass index (BMI), BMI percentage change, weight, BMI-SDS, waist circumference, metabolic, anthropometric, and safety outcomes.ResultsThe study gathered 2733 studies, including 30 articles that involved 3822 participants. The results of our research showed that PHEN/TPM was better at lowering BMI than exenatide, liraglutide, metformin, fluoxetine, Met/Flu, topiramate, orlistat, and sibutramine, with mean differences (MD) ranging from -10.29 to -1.28. Additionally, semaglutide demonstrated superior efficacy over other AOMs (MD ranged from -8.28 to -1.24). Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings. Furthermore, semaglutide demonstrated superior efficacy over exenatide (MD-12.43, 95% CI -23.95 to -0.30) regarding percentage change in BMI. Semaglutide also showed enhanced weight reduction effectiveness compared to seven other AOMs except for PHEN/TPM (MD ranging from -15.56 to -12.65). Similarly, PHEN/TPM displayed greater weight reduction effectiveness than seven other AOMs, except for semaglutide (MD ranged from -12.17 to -9.27). Moreover, semaglutide proved more effective in decreasing waist circumference when compared with other AOMs apart from PHEN/TPM (MD ranged from -11.61 to -6.07). Similarly, we found that PHEN/TPM, excluding semaglutide and sibutramine, was more effective in reducing waist circumference (MD ranged from -8.64 to -5.51).ConclusionsThe study found that semaglutide outperformed other AOMs in reducing BMI and additional weight-related outcomes in children and adolescents with obesity, while PHEN/TPM showed comparable efficacy.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In children and adolescents with obesity, liraglutide had a smaller BMI-lowering magnitude than phentermine/topiramate.

    In plain wordsIn children and adolescents with obesity, liraglutide lowered BMI less than phentermine/topiramate.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBMI-lowering magnitude
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Phentermine/topiramate
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The results of our research showed that PHEN/TPM was better at lowering BMI than exenatide, liraglutide, metformin, fluoxetine, Met/Flu, topiramate, orlistat, and sibutramine, with mean differences (MD) ranging from -10.29 to -1.28.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024.
    Summary · context
    We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat.
    Summary · context
    Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide showed superior BMI efficacy over other anti-obesity medications.

    In plain wordsIn children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide lowered BMI more than other obesity medicines.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBMI
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Other anti-obesity medications
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    MD
    −8.28 to −1.24
    semaglutide versus other anti-obesity medications

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Additionally, semaglutide demonstrated superior efficacy over other AOMs (MD ranged from -8.28 to -1.24).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024.
    Summary · context
    We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat.
    Summary · context
    Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide reduced BMI percentage change more than exenatide (MD -12.43, 95% CI -23.95 to -0.30).

    In plain wordsIn children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide lowered BMI percentage change more than exenatide.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBMI percentage change
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Exenatide
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Mean difference
    −12.43
    semaglutide versus exenatide
    95% CI
    −23.95 to −0.3
    semaglutide versus exenatide

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, semaglutide demonstrated superior efficacy over exenatide (MD-12.43, 95% CI -23.95 to -0.30) regarding percentage change in BMI.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024.
    Summary · context
    We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat.
    Summary · context
    Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide reduced body weight more than seven other anti-obesity medications except phentermine/topiramate.

    In plain wordsIn children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide reduced body weight more than seven other obesity medicines, except phentermine/topiramate.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBody weight
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Seven other anti-obesity medications except phentermine/topiramate
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Mean difference
    −15.56 to −12.65
    semaglutide versus seven other anti-obesity medications except phentermine/topiramate

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide also showed enhanced weight reduction effectiveness compared to seven other AOMs except for PHEN/TPM (MD ranging from -15.56 to -12.65).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024.
    Summary · context
    We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat.
    Summary · context
    Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings.
  5. 05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide decreased waist circumference more than other anti-obesity medications apart from phentermine/topiramate.

    In plain wordsIn children and adolescents with obesity, semaglutide reduced waist size more than other obesity medicines, except phentermine/topiramate.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWaist circumference
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Other anti-obesity medications apart from phentermine/topiramate
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Mean difference
    −11.61 to −6.07
    semaglutide versus other anti-obesity medications apart from phentermine/topiramate

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, semaglutide proved more effective in decreasing waist circumference when compared with other AOMs apart from PHEN/TPM (MD ranged from -11.61 to -6.07).
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies published up to January 3, 2024.
    Summary · context
    We performed a network meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials that compared various treatments for pediatric and adolescent obesity, such as phentermine/topiramate, semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, topiramate, metformin, fluoxetine, metformin/fluoxetine, sibutramine, and orlistat.
    Summary · context
    Various levels of certainty, ranging from very low to moderate, supported the findings.

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.

  1. Version 3Current

    12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. 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.