Effect of Semaglutide and Liraglutide in Individuals With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Systematic Review
Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2022;13:1-14 doi: 10.1177/20406223221108064
Data on the effects of liraglutide and semaglutide in diabetes are well-known, but therapeutic outcomes in obese or overweight individuals without diabetes have not been summarised. This systematic review aimed to evaluate their effects in this population, and 18 studies representing 10,938 patients were included.
For the primary outcome of the proportion achieving at least 5% and 10% weight reduction, all populations treated with liraglutide or semaglutide showed effective, sustained, and clinically relevant weight loss regardless of the study design and duration. Serious adverse events were rarely reported and usually appeared to be mild to moderate in severity.
The authors conclude that liraglutide and semaglutide were both significantly associated with weight loss in obese/overweight adults without diabetes regardless of different trial designs, population characteristics, and durations, and well tolerated in real-world practice.
To date, few studies have compared the efficacy and safety profiles of liraglutide and semaglutide in this population, suggesting a need to develop trials directly comparing drugs for different obese or overweight subgroups.