Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Obesity Medications for Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.
Diabetes Obes MetabJul 9, 2026 (epub)
Zhinan Chen, Ruitang Cheng, Huiying Wang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for weight maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity. Analyzing 12 randomized controlled trials with 4915 participants, the study found that AOMs significantly reduced body weight by 8.68 kg compared to placebo, while also improving waist circumference and body mass index.
Key findings
- AOM therapy resulted in a weight loss of 8.68 kg compared to placebo (95% CI: -13.25 to -4.11).
- Waist circumference decreased by 7.16 cm with AOMs (95% CI: -10.34 to -3.98).
- Body mass index was reduced by 3.58 kg/m² with AOM therapy (95% CI: -5.69 to -1.46).
- Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common with AOMs, but serious adverse events were not significantly increased.
Why it matters
The findings highlight the potential of anti-obesity medications to support long-term weight maintenance and improve cardiometabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity, addressing a critical challenge in obesity management.