Browse the evidence

GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery extend the duration of weight loss before reaching a plateau by weakening the physiological appetite feedback control circuit, whereas calorie restriction fails to weaken this circuit, leading to an earlier plateau.

If you are using GLP-1 medications or had bariatric surgery, your body's 'starvation signal' (appetite feedback) is chemically or surgically dampened, which is why you can lose weight for longer than diet-only approaches allow. Do not mistake the eventual plateau for failure; it is a sign that the feedback loop has stabilized. Calorie restriction alone fights this feedback loop directly, causing an earlier plateau.

GLP-1 agonist use (specifically semaglutide) is associated with a reduction in body mass index (from 34.1 ± 9 to 30.6 ± 6) and a decrease in smoking frequency/amount (by 14.4%) among users in Saudi Arabia.

If you are using GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide for weight loss, this study suggests you may also see a reduction in smoking frequency. However, be aware that cost and side effects are major reasons people stop taking the medication. To maintain weight loss, consistent use and healthy lifestyle habits (diet and exercise) are crucial, as obesity is a chronic condition requiring long-term management.

Semaglutide treatment is associated with a 26% lower risk of fractures compared to sleeve gastrectomy in adults with obesity.

If you are at high risk for fractures (e.g., older age, diabetes, history of falls) and need to lose weight, discuss semaglutide with your provider. This study suggests it may be safer for your bones than sleeve gastrectomy, offering a 26% lower fracture risk in a large real-world cohort. However, because this is observational data, ensure you monitor your bone health and nutrition regardless of the chosen path.

Enobosarm (3-6 mg/day) preserves total lean mass and reduces fat mass loss when co-administered with semaglutide for weight loss in older adults with overweight/obesity, without compromising overall body weight reduction.

If you are taking semaglutide for weight loss and are concerned about losing muscle, ask your doctor about adding enobosarm (3-6 mg daily). Recent Phase 2b data suggests this combination preserves lean mass and increases fat loss compared to semaglutide alone, without changing total weight loss. Note that this specific combination is still under regulatory review and not yet approved.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (Liraglutide and Semaglutide) promote weight loss and modulate gut microbiota towards a lean-related profile, although clinical data on their specific impact on gut microbiota composition is currently limited.

GLP-1 agonists like Liraglutide and Semaglutide are effective pharmacological treatments for obesity, producing significant weight loss (approx. 6-8%) when combined with lifestyle changes. While they show promise in improving gut microbiota in animal studies, clinical data on these specific changes is still emerging.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) and dual GIP/GLP1-RAs (e.g., tirzepatide) significantly reduce body fat distribution (visceral, subcutaneous, epicardial) and anthropometric indices (BMI, waist circumference) in overweight or obese adults with or without type 2 diabetes.

If you are overweight or obese, especially with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists are a proven pharmacological option to reduce body fat, including dangerous visceral fat, and improve metabolic health. These medications work by targeting hormones that regulate appetite and satiety. Consult a doctor to see if an injectable medication like semaglutide or tirzepatide is appropriate for your specific health profile and goals.

In patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m², improvements in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are driven by the magnitude of weight loss and baseline renal function, regardless of whether the weight loss is achieved via metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) or high-dose GLP-1 agonist therapy.

For obese patients (BMI ≥35) concerned about kidney health, achieving significant weight loss is the key factor for improving glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Both high-dose GLP-1 agonists (like 3mg liraglutide) and bariatric surgery can improve kidney function to a similar degree, provided they result in substantial weight loss. The choice between medication and surgery should be based on patient preference and tolerability, as renal outcomes appear equivalent when weight loss is achieved.

In patients with overweight/obesity and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg significantly reduces total annual medical costs and inpatient healthcare resource utilization compared to non-treated controls.

For patients with obesity and heart disease, using semaglutide 2.4 mg is associated with lower total medical bills over a year, primarily because it reduces the need for hospital stays. This suggests the drug can be cost-effective for this specific population by preventing expensive cardiovascular events.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) induce significant weight loss and modify inflammatory markers, suggesting potential oncological benefit, but high-quality data on cancer incidence is currently lacking.

GLP-1 agonists are effective for weight loss and may reduce cancer risk, but long-term cancer data is not yet available. They are a viable option for those who cannot undergo surgery.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are perceived by patients as effective for weight loss and appetite reduction, with positive treatment experiences correlating with therapy duration of 6 months or longer.

If you are considering GLP-1 medication, know that most patients report significant benefits for weight and appetite, especially if they stay on it for at least 6 months. Be prepared to discuss insurance coverage and side effects openly with your doctor to overcome common barriers.

Antiobesity medications (AOMs), including both injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists and oral formulations, produce similar weight loss outcomes and safety profiles in patients with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet as they do in patients without celiac disease.

If you have celiac disease and are on a gluten-free diet, antiobesity medications (like semaglutide or liraglutide) are likely to work for you just as well as they do for people without celiac disease. You do not need to avoid these medications due to fears about gut absorption, provided your celiac disease is managed with a strict gluten-free diet.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (exenatide, liraglutide) are effective for weight loss in patients with schizophrenia who are gaining weight due to antipsychotic medications (clozapine/olanzapine).

For patients with schizophrenia taking clozapine or olanzapine who experience significant weight gain, GLP-1 agonists (exenatide or liraglutide) are a promising treatment option. They effectively reduce weight gain (avg 3.71 kg difference) without interacting with the antipsychotic medications, avoiding the need to change psychiatric treatment.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (Liraglutide, Semaglutide) are effective and safe for treating obesity in children and adolescents, with FDA approval for Liraglutide in this population.

For children and adolescents with obesity, Liraglutide is an FDA-approved option. It helps reduce weight (avg 2.74 kg in trials) and improves HbA1c. Side effects are generally mild GI symptoms or minor hypoglycemia. It should be used alongside diet and exercise.

Pre-existing use of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RA) is significantly associated with reduced weight loss in patients undergoing a Full Meal Replacement (FMR) intensive lifestyle intervention.

If you are currently taking a GLP-1 RA (like Ozempic or Wegovy) and start a strict meal replacement program, you might not lose as much weight as expected compared to those not on the medication. This does not mean the medication is ineffective, but its interaction with the FMR protocol may differ from standard expectations. Discuss this with your provider.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) reduce cancer risk in overweight/obese individuals primarily through sustained weight loss and secondarily through weight-loss-independent anti-inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms.

For individuals with obesity, GLP-1/GIP agonists (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) are more effective than diet alone for achieving sustained weight loss, which is linked to reduced cancer risk. These medications work by reducing hunger and improving metabolic health. While they require ongoing use and can be costly, they offer a clinically significant advantage over lifestyle changes alone for those who struggle with long-term adherence.

Dual GLP-1/Glucagon agonists (e.g., mazdutide, cotadutide, efinopegdutide) show promise for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity, though with higher rates of gastrointestinal side effects compared to GLP-1 monotherapy.

For patients with obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dual GLP-1/Glucagon agonists may offer a unique benefit by promoting liver fat oxidation. However, these drugs may cause more gastrointestinal side effects than standard GLP-1 drugs, so the trade-off between liver benefits and tolerability should be discussed with a doctor.

48 weeks of tirzepatide treatment significantly improves liver steatosis, liver enzymes, and surrogate markers of liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

For patients with both fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide is a well-tolerated treatment that significantly reduces liver fat, improves liver enzyme levels, and slows down fibrosis markers over 48 weeks. While gastrointestinal side effects like nausea are common, they are typically mild and do not force most patients to stop the medication. The benefits extend beyond just weight loss, likely due to the specific dual-action mechanism of the drug on liver metabolism.

Lanifibranor (800-1200 mg daily) significantly improves MASH resolution and fibrosis regression in patients with noncirrhotic MASH compared to placebo.

Lanifibranor (800-1200mg daily) is a promising late-stage drug for MASH that targets multiple metabolic pathways. It significantly improves liver health scores compared to placebo, though monitor for mild weight gain and GI issues.

Saroglitazar (4 mg daily) significantly improves liver enzymes and liver fat content in patients with MASLD/MASH.

Saroglitazar (4mg daily) is approved in India for MASH. It significantly lowers liver enzymes and liver fat. It is currently in Phase 2b trials in the US and other regions.

Tirzepatide therapy significantly improves metabolic control (HbA1c, fasting glucose) and lipid profiles (LDL, HDL, triglycerides) in patients with heart failure.

If you have heart failure and are prescribed tirzepatide, you may see significant improvements in your blood sugar control and lipid profile within six months. This includes lower HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and higher HDL cholesterol. These improvements contribute to better long-term cardiovascular health. Discuss these potential benefits with your healthcare provider.

The novel long-acting glucagon analogue HM15136 causes dose-dependent fasting plasma glucose elevation and mild weight loss in overweight/obese patients, with hyperglycemia limiting tolerability at higher doses (0.06 mg/kg) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

HM15136 is a weekly injection that causes mild weight loss (approx 2-3%) but significantly raises blood sugar. It is not recommended for obesity treatment, especially for those with Type 2 Diabetes, due to safety concerns regarding hyperglycemia. It may be explored for chronic hypoglycemia or in combination with other drugs.

Regular physical activity reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake.

To prevent or manage type 2 diabetes, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise like brisk walking or biking each week. This can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by up to 40%. Combine this with a healthy diet and a goal of losing 7% of your body weight for the best results.

Moderate (~10%) weight loss achieved through diet and exercise reduces pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in adults with adult-onset obesity (AO), but fails to alter these immune cell profiles in those with childhood-onset obesity (CO).

If you developed obesity as an adult, moderate weight loss (around 10%) through diet and exercise may help reduce inflammation in your abdominal fat. However, if you have been obese since childhood, the same level of weight loss might not change the inflammatory state of your fat tissue, even if you lose weight and improve blood markers like insulin. This suggests that long-term obesity history creates a 'memory' in fat tissue that is harder to reverse with standard lifestyle changes alone.

Moderate weight loss increases CD3+CD4+ T cells in both abdominal and femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue in adults with adult-onset obesity (AO), but not in those with childhood-onset obesity (CO).

If you developed obesity as an adult, moderate weight loss may trigger an increase in CD4+ T cells in your fat tissue, which could include regulatory T cells that help manage inflammation. If you have been obese since childhood, this specific immune shift may not occur with the same degree of weight loss. This highlights that long-term obesity history creates a 'memory' in fat tissue that is harder to reverse with standard lifestyle changes alone.