Research
Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (Liraglutide, Semaglutide) and dual agonists (Tirzepatide) are viable and promising options for weight loss in people living with HIV, with minimal drug-drug interaction risks compared to Orlistat.
GLP-1 agonists like Liraglutide and Semaglutide are effective and generally safe for people with HIV, with fewer drug interactions than older drugs like Orlistat. They require injections (or new oral forms in development). Discuss these options with your provider if lifestyle changes alone are insufficient.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Overall, liraglutide is regarded as a viable choice for promoting weight loss in PLWH... Semaglutide... and tirzepatide... are both promising options for weight management.
Why this rating
Most efficacy data comes from general population trials; specific PLWH trials are ongoing or limited to observational data.
Source
HIV Treatment and Obesity: What’s New?
Paula Freitas et al. · Infectious diseases · 2023
DOI 10.5772/intechopen.112667
book_chapterCited 1×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), particularly dolutegravir and bictegravir, cause significant weight gain and treatment-emergent obesity in people living with HIV, with effects most pronounced in women and Black individuals.Good
- Orlistat is generally not recommended for people living with HIV on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) due to the risk of reduced absorption of antiretroviral drugs and subsequent loss of viral control.Moderate
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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