The Long Term Effects of GLP-1 Medications on Weight Loss: Mini Literature Review

Background: Obesity is an increasingly popular diagnosis worldwide. It is linked with many other medical problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The GLP-1 receptor antagonist medications were initially developed to assist diabetics with glycemic control but have shown to be extremely effective in weight loss as well. These medications are now widely prescribed for weight management. Design: A rapid review of the literature was completed to examine the effectiveness of GLP-1 RAs on weight management. Methods: A thorough review of the literature was conducted using the following keywords: GLP-1 Receptor antagonist, obesity, overweight, semaglutide, liraglutide, efpeglenatide, and anti-obesity medication. The databases searched included CINAHL, Medline, and PubMed. Literature was limited to North American journals between the years of 2019 to 2024 and had to involve the use of GLP-1 RA medications in adults. Weight or BMI had to be one of the outcomes measured. Studies were excluded if they were not available in full text, in English, or were ongoing and/or incomplete. 146 studies were reviewed which was narrowed to 59 after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. A final 15 articles were included in the review after a full text screen and data extraction. Conclusion: GLP-1 RAs can lead to clinically significant weight loss in individuals who are overweight or obese. Many patients involved in the included studies were able to achieve a weight loss of at least 5% less than their baseline weight. While several studies mention mild to moderate side effects as secondary outcomes measured, further research is needed to determine the long term side effects associated with GLP-1 RA use and how weight is affected by discontinuing these medications.