Mixed
Combining exercise with pharmacotherapy (specifically GLP-1 agonists or orlistat) significantly enhances weight loss, BMI reduction, and body fat percentage compared to exercise alone in overweight/obese adults.
If you are overweight or obese, adding a prescribed weight-loss medication (like GLP-1 agonists or orlistat) to your regular exercise routine will likely result in greater weight and fat loss than exercising alone. While exercise is foundational, medication can help overcome compensatory mechanisms like increased appetite, leading to more significant improvements in body composition.
Combined exercise and medication significantly reduced weight (MD = −2.49, 95% CI: −3.83, −1.14), BMI (MD = −0.79, 95% CI: −1.25, −0.34), and body fat percentage (MD = −1.97, 95% CI: −3.76, −0.18) compared to exercise alone.
Why this rating
Based on 18 RCTs with 5,620 participants, though heterogeneity was noted.
Source
The Effects of Exercise Combined with Pharmacotherapy on Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters in Overweight/Obese Adults: A Meta-Analysis and Network Pharmacology Study
Tianhang Peng et al. · Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity · 2026
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