Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide) and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists (tirzepatide) produce significantly greater weight loss than older anti-obesity medications (orlistat, phentermine/topiramate, naltrexone/bupropion) by targeting hypothalamic appetite regulation and delaying gastric emptying.
If lifestyle changes alone haven't worked, newer GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) are significantly more effective than older drugs, achieving 15-20% weight loss compared to 3-5% with older options. However, they are expensive, require weekly injections (mostly), and can cause gastrointestinal side effects. They are best considered for those with obesity-related comorbidities who have failed lifestyle interventions.
These drugs have shown excellent weight-loss effects with tolerable adverse effects in phase II or III clinical trials, with significantly greater effectiveness than that of currently available medications.
Why this rating
Based on multiple Phase III randomized controlled trials (STEP, SURPASS, SCALE) cited in the text.
Source
Pharmacologic treatment of obesity
Han Na Jung et al. · Journal of Korean Medical Association · 2022
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