Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are a promising treatment option for obesity. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on the use of GLP-1 agonists for weight management in obese individuals and specifically identify the most commonly reported outcomes.
Objectives: We identified the range of GLP-1 agonists being studied, identified most commonly reported patient characteristics, interventions and summarized reported outcomes and knowledge gaps regarding their efficacy and safety for obesity treatment.
Methods: We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, EMBASE) for studies investigating GLP-1 agonists for obesity. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) involving human participants and reporting on weight-related outcomes were included. We extracted data on study characteristics, participants, interventions, outcomes, and risk of bias assessment.
Results: We identified a wide range of GLP-1 agonists with liraglutide, semaglutide, and exenatide being the most prevalent. Most commonly reported patient characteristics were Age, Sex and BMI with Type 2 diabetes being the most common comorbity. Frequently reported outcomes included weight loss, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels.
Conclusions: This scoping review provides a broad overview of the current research landscape on GLP-1 agonists for obesity treatment. While GLP-1 agonists demonstrate promise for weight management, knowledge gaps exist regarding long-term effects, optimal dosing strategies for different patient subgroups, and cost-effectiveness compared to other treatment options. Future research should address these gaps to inform clinical practice and optimize GLP-1 agonist use for obesity treatment.
Limitations: This review was limited to published studies in English.