← GLP-1 receptor agonists × body weight & composition

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2025

Semaglutide for adults living with obesity.

Javier Bracchiglione et al.PubMed ↗Full text ↗Publisher ↗

  • Semaglutidelooks good hereLower percentage body weight.Randomised, large.

What the trial testedrandomised · 27,949 people · 2025

Randomised vs placebo

Lowered percentage body weight

−10.7−12.2 to −9.21

semaglutide vs placebo

As reported

difference −10.73, 95% CI −12.2 to −9.21

Randomised comparison

Raised body weight & composition

2.7×2.3× to 3.1×

Bigger than 9 in 10 on the map

As reported

RR 2.68, 95% CI 2.30–3.12

Randomised comparison

Raised adverse events & safety

+11%+1% to +22%

Bigger than 3 in 10 for adverse events & safety

As reported

RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.22

Randomised comparison

Raised adverse events & safety

1.8×1.5× to 2.2×

Bigger than 8 in 10 for adverse events & safety

As reported

RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.53–2.21

+6 more in the walkthrough ↓

Who was studied, and how

27,949people with obesity, in this paper

The trial randomly assignedassigned by chance

semaglutide
placebo

Lowered percentage body weight−10.7

randomised

the abstract, start to end

… body weight (mean difference (MD) -10.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) -12.24 to -9.21; 15 studies, 8651 participants; high-certainty evidence) and increases the proportion of people achieving 5% weight loss (risk ratio (RR) 2.68, 95% CI 2.30 to 3.12; 12 …

… increase non-serious adverse events (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.22; 13 studies, 8443 participants; low-certainty evidence), likely results in little to no absolute difference in adverse events leading to withdrawal (RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.21; 15 …

… to no absolute difference in MACE (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.90; 9 studies, 7647 participants; low-certainty evidence) and mortality (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.98; 14 …

… reduces percentage body weight (MD -11.11, 95% CI -16.47 to -5.75; I² = 94%; 2 studies, 15,124 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and likely increases the proportion of people achieving 5% weight loss (RR 2.74, 95% CI 1.95 to 3.84; 2 …

… moderate-certainty evidence), MACE (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.90; …

← favours treatmentfavours comparator →
could be chance
Percentage body weightsemaglutide vs placebo
−10.73−12.2 to −9.21
Body weight & composition
RR 2.682.30–3.12
Adverse events & safety
RR 1.111.01–1.22
Adverse events & safety
RR 1.010.78–1.29
Adverse events & safety
RR 1.841.53–2.21
Cardiovascular events
RR 0.630.44–0.90
All-cause mortality
RR 0.690.48–0.98
Percentage body weightsemaglutide vs placebo
−11.11−16.5 to −5.75
Body weight & composition
RR 2.741.95–3.84
Quality of life & behaviour
RR 0.810.73–0.90
GLP-1 receptor agonistsBody weight & compositionCardiovascular eventsAll-cause mortalityAdverse events & safetyQuality of life & behaviour

GLP-1 receptor agonists × body weight & compositionhelps?replicated

unlikelylikely
0.91not counted

GLP-1 receptor agonists × adverse events & safetyharms?mixed

unlikelylikely
0.00not counted

GLP-1 receptor agonists × quality of life & behaviourhelps?mixed

unlikelylikely
0.37not counted
← favours treatmentfavours comparator →
more certainless certain
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6 papers cite it

2025
2026
this paperpooled itcites it
Full record →Abstract, authors, funding and every citing paper · PMID 41161683