Research

Hormonal

Phentermine-topiramate produces greater weight loss than GLP-1 receptor agonists, but GLP-1 agonists carry a higher risk of adverse events.

If you are looking for the maximum possible weight loss number, phentermine-topiramate may outperform GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide. However, this comes with a higher risk of side effects. GLP-1s offer a better safety profile regarding adverse events and provide proven cardiovascular protection, making them a preferred choice for patients with heart disease risks despite slightly lower weight loss efficacy.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
It found that, in order of efficacy, phentermine-topiramate showed the greatest weight loss (odds ratio [OR]: 8.02), followed by GLP-1 receptor agonists (OR: 6.33), and naltrexone-bupropion (OR: 2.69). Additionally, there was a higher risk of adverse events with GLP-1 agonists and orlistat
Valeria Atenea Costa et al. · Revista Colombiana de Gastroenterología · 2024

Why this rating

Based on a cited meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, though the paper itself is a review.

Source

Obesidad, el papel del gastroenterólogo

Valeria Atenea Costa et al. · Revista Colombiana de Gastroenterología · 2024

DOI 10.22516/25007440.1192

narrative_reviewCited 1×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →