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Effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists on weight and cardiovascular outcomes: A review

Fatima Ali Raza1, Rafiya Altaf2, Talha Bashir3

  • 1Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.

Medicine
|November 4, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) offer a promising pharmacologic approach for obesity treatment, aiding significant weight loss and potentially improving cardiovascular health. This review details their mechanisms, benefits, and management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Obesity treatment often requires pharmacologic interventions due to the limitations of diet and lifestyle modifications for long-term weight loss.
  • There is a growing demand for effective medications to manage obesity and its associated life-threatening diseases.
  • Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have emerged as a key area of interest for obesity pharmacotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanism of action of GLP-1 RAs in the context of weight management.
  • To explore the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs for weight loss and their impact on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes.
  • To discuss the adverse effects of GLP-1 RAs and strategies for their management.

Main Methods:

  • This narrative review synthesizes current research on GLP-1 RAs for obesity treatment.
  • Literature search focused on studies investigating GLP-1 RA mechanisms, weight loss effects, cardiovascular benefits, and safety profiles.
  • The review includes information on FDA-approved GLP-1 RAs such as semaglutide and liraglutide.

Main Results:

  • GLP-1 RAs promote significant and sustained weight loss, addressing a key limitation of traditional obesity treatments.
  • These agents have demonstrated promising early evidence of cardiovascular benefits in obese patients.
  • Semaglutide and liraglutide, initially for type 2 diabetes, are now approved for weight loss due to their demonstrated efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • GLP-1 RAs represent a significant advancement in pharmacologic obesity treatment, offering substantial weight loss.
  • Their potential cardiovascular benefits add to their clinical value in managing obese patients.
  • Understanding the mechanism, efficacy, and adverse effects of GLP-1 RAs is crucial for effective clinical application.

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