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Study · Systematic review · n = 5,411 · 2026

7 results

Efficacy and safety of semaglutide in non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Zhang S, Niu S, An S, Cai X, Lao X

European journal of pharmacology22 Jan 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41580006 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.ejphar.2026.178587 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41580006
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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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 study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 7 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, pooled RCTs showed semaglutide reduced absolute weight by 12.24 kg versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, trials combined showed semaglutide lowered body weight more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseAbsolute weight change
    Study

    n = 5,411

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

    Measurements

    Weight mean difference
    −12.24 kg
    semaglutide vs placebo

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide significantly reduced absolute weight (WMD -12.24 kg, 95 % CI -13.25 to -11.22), percentage weight change (WMD -12.15 %, 95 % CI -13.63 to -10.67), BMI (WMD -4.32 kg/m2, 95 % CI -4.75 to -3.89), and waist circumference (WMD -9.32 cm, 95 % CI -9.87 to -8.78).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, pooled RCTs showed semaglutide reduced body weight by 12.15% versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, trials combined showed semaglutide cut body weight by a larger percentage than placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreasePercentage weight change
    Study

    n = 5,411

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

    Measurements

    Weight change mean difference
    −12.15%
    semaglutide vs placebo

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide significantly reduced absolute weight (WMD -12.24 kg, 95 % CI -13.25 to -11.22), percentage weight change (WMD -12.15 %, 95 % CI -13.63 to -10.67), BMI (WMD -4.32 kg/m2, 95 % CI -4.75 to -3.89), and waist circumference (WMD -9.32 cm, 95 % CI -9.87 to -8.78).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, pooled RCTs showed semaglutide reduced BMI by 4.32 kg/m2 versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, trials combined showed semaglutide lowered BMI more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBMI change
    Study

    n = 5,411

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

    Measurements

    BMI mean difference
    −4.32 kg/m2
    semaglutide vs placebo

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide significantly reduced absolute weight (WMD -12.24 kg, 95 % CI -13.25 to -11.22), percentage weight change (WMD -12.15 %, 95 % CI -13.63 to -10.67), BMI (WMD -4.32 kg/m2, 95 % CI -4.75 to -3.89), and waist circumference (WMD -9.32 cm, 95 % CI -9.87 to -8.78).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, pooled RCTs showed semaglutide reduced waist circumference by 9.32 cm versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, trials combined showed semaglutide shrank waist size more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseWaist circumference change
    Study

    n = 5,411

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

    Measurements

    Waist circumference mean difference
    −9.32 cm
    semaglutide vs placebo

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide significantly reduced absolute weight (WMD -12.24 kg, 95 % CI -13.25 to -11.22), percentage weight change (WMD -12.15 %, 95 % CI -13.63 to -10.67), BMI (WMD -4.32 kg/m2, 95 % CI -4.75 to -3.89), and waist circumference (WMD -9.32 cm, 95 % CI -9.87 to -8.78).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  5. 05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide increased the likelihood of at least 5% weight loss versus placebo (RR 2.63).

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, trials combined showed semaglutide made a 5% weight loss more likely than placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseAchieving at least 5% weight loss
    Study

    n = 5,411

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

    Measurements

    Risk ratio
    2.63 ratio
    weight loss >=5%

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide increased likelihood of achieving ≥5 % weight loss (RR 2.63, 95 % CI 2.12-3.25).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  6. 06HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, total adverse events were modestly but significantly more frequent with semaglutide than placebo, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, side effects were slightly more common with semaglutide than placebo, mostly stomach and gut symptoms.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseTotal adverse events
    Study

    n = 5,411

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Risk ratio
    1.05 ratio
    total adverse events

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Total adverse events were modestly but significantly elevated (RR 1.05, 95 % CI 1.01-1.09), primarily gastrointestinal symptoms.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.
  7. 07HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, serious adverse reactions were more frequent with semaglutide than placebo.

    In plain wordsIn non-diabetic adults with overweight or obesity, serious side effects were more common with semaglutide than with placebo.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseSerious adverse reactions
    Study

    n = 5,411

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Risk ratio
    1.33 ratio
    serious adverse reactions

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Serious adverse reactions were also higher (RR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.08-1.63).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Randomized controlled trials comparing semaglutide with placebo in non-diabetic adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 were included in this study.
    Summary · context
    Seven RCTs involving 5411 participants were included in this review.

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 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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