Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42034831›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of obesity (2005)2026

GLP-1 agonists and changes in body mass and composition in adults with overweight or obesity with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nadia Sawicka-Gutaj, Dawid Gruszczyński, Kacper Nijakowski, Aleksandra Derwich-Rudowicz, Michal Krenz, Anita Kumar, Pei-Yin Lu, Marek Ruchała

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of obesity (2005), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nadia Sawicka-Gutaj *Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1510-4702
Dawid Gruszczyński *Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. dawid.j.gruszczynski@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-4183
Kacper NijakowskiPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5042-5985
Aleksandra Derwich-RudowiczPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-2679
Michal KrenzPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Anita KumarPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Pei-Yin LuPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Marek RuchałaPoznan University of Medical Sciences, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6296-7220

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe systematic review aimed to assess the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists on weight loss and body composition in individuals with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

methodsThe study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251002447). A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to December 2024 according to PRISMA guidelines. Following the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 studies were included in this systematic review and underwent qualitative analysis. In addition, 24 studies met the criteria for quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). Data were pooled using random-effects models with subgroup analyses by drug type and treatment duration (3, 6, and 12 months).

resultsGLP-1 RA treatment consistently reduced body weight, BMI, and waist circumference across all time points. At 3 months, mean body weight decreased by approximately 9%, accompanied by marked reductions in fat mass and visceral adipose tissue. At 6 months, weight reduction averaged 5%, with semaglutide, liraglutide, and exenatide showing comparable effects, while lean mass remained largely preserved. At 12 months, weight loss persisted at around 4%, with variability between agents, most notably liraglutide. Across studies, fat mass decline predominated, whereas reductions in lean body mass were modest.

conclusionGLP-1 RAs provide clinically meaningful weight loss primarily through selective fat mass reduction, with relative preservation of lean tissue, supporting their role in achieving "quality" weight loss. Differences between agents highlight the importance of individualized treatment strategies, complemented by nutritional and exercise interventions to optimize long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

Body CompositionDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsObesityOverweightAdultBody Mass IndexExenatideHumansHypoglycemic AgentsLiraglutideSemaglutideWeight LossExenatideGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsHypoglycemic AgentsLiraglutideSemaglutide

Identifiers

PMID42034831
PMCPMC13461353

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.