Loading...
In studies of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for treating diabetes, weight loss was a consistently observed — and welcome — secondary effect. In 2014, liraglutide was the first GLP-1 agonist to be U.S. FDA approved for weight management in obese patients without diabetes; in clinical trials, weight loss with a daily injection of liraglutide, compared with placebo, averaged about 5 kg during 1 year. In 2021, the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide also was approved for this indication, based on impressive weight loss in industry-sponsored studies.
In one study, nearly 2000 obese patients without diabetes (mean body-mass index [BMI], 38 kg/m2) were randomized to once-weekly subcutaneous injections of semaglutide or placebo in addition…