Hormonal

Pharmacologic weight loss medications, particularly FDA-approved anti-obesity agents (GLP-1 agonists, phentermine, lorcaserin), are safe and effective for inducing weight loss in patients with cirrhosis without worsening liver disease severity (MELD score).

For patients with cirrhosis and obesity, current guidelines limit treatment to lifestyle changes due to safety concerns. However, this study indicates that FDA-approved weight-loss medications (like GLP-1 agonists) and other weight-loss associated drugs (like metformin) can be used safely in patients with advanced liver disease. These medications resulted in significant weight loss (average 7.22 kg for FDA-approved drugs) without worsening liver disease markers (MELD score) or increasing hospitalizations. Patients should discuss these options with their hepatologist, as individual safety profiles vary, and some medications may require dose adjustments or avoidance in severe hepatic impairment.