Settled
Do anti-obesity drugs improve body weight & composition versus placebo?
Mostly studied in obesity & overweight. Also asked against other treatments.
Not modeled yetTrial evidence exists, but no mechanistic model yetWithout a model there is no decisive experiment to propose. Help build it. →
Where the evidence stands
Very likely. So far, repeated by independent trials.
NoUnsureYes
- Belief
- 0.99 (range 0.84–1.00)
- Trials for
- 2
- Trials against
- 0
- Inconclusive
- 0
Already under way
- Individualized Pharmacological Approach to Obesity in Patients With Bipolar Disorder - OBOE-MayoNCT07213466 · recruiting · started 2026
- A Real-world Study of Liraglutide Alone and in Combination With Orlistat for Weight Loss in Overweight/Obese Patients.NCT07301437 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
- Pilot Study of the Effect of Weight Loss by Pharmacotherapy on Chronic Pro-tumor Inflammatory CellsNCT05756764 · active not recruiting · started 2023
The evidence so far
- Registered trials
- 23
- With posted results
- 9
- Published papers
- 5
Of 7 decided analyses: 6 favor anti-obesity drugs, 0 find no difference, 1 favor the comparator.
Papers
- A comparison between rimonabant and metformin in reducing biochemical hyperandrogenaemia and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a randomized open-label parallel study.Trial report · 2008
- Coadministration of Canagliflozin and Phentermine for Weight Management in Overweight and Obese Individuals Without Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Trial report · 2017
- Association of Pharmacological Treatments for Obesity With Weight Loss and Adverse Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2016
- The effect of antiobesity drugs on waist circumference: a mixed treatment comparison.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2014
- Comparative effects of drugs for adults with overweight or obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2026
Trials
- Effectiveness of Semaglutide 2.4 mg vs. Commercially Available Medications for Chronic Weight Management in Participants With Obesity in a Multi-employer Setting in The US - a Pragmatic Clinical StudyNCT05579249 · 6 posted results
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of the Co-administration of Canagliflozin 300 mg and Phentermine 15 mg Compared With Placebo for the Treatment of Non-diabetic Overweight and Obese SubjectsNCT02243202 · 10 posted results
- Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate Effect of Combination Therapy of Metformin and Sibutramine Versus Metformin or Sibutramine Monotherapy Over Weight, Adiposity, Glucose Metabolism and Inflammatory State in Obese PatientsNCT00941382
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for BMI 27-32 Type 2 Diabetes vs Best Medical TreatmentNCT02041234
- Effect of Liraglutide on Body Weight in Obese Subjects Without Diabetes: A 20-week Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Six Armed Parallel Group, Multi-centre, Multinational Trial With an Open Label Orlistat Comparator Arm and With an 84-week Extension PeriodNCT00422058 · 4 posted results
- A Multicenter, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Randomized Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Rimonabant/Metformin Combinations for Reducing A1C in the Treatment of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Who Are Not on Current Drug Therapy.NCT00754689
- A Prospective Randomized Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy to Enhance Weight Loss Following Sleeve GastrectomyNCT03603080
- A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial of Metformin Versus Orlistat for the Management of Obese Anovulatory Women.NCT00292799