Among adults treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for weight loss, efficacy was greater in women than men, but similar across age, race, ethnicity, baseline body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c.
These findings indicate that GLP1RA therapy for weight loss is broadly effective across key patient characteristics, supporting inclusive clinical decision-making. GLP-1 RAs include semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide, and dulaglutide.
Question How heterogeneous are the treatment effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on weight loss, by age, sex, race and ethnicity, baseline body mass index, and baseline hemoglobin A1c?
Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 41 articles representing 64 randomized clinical trials, the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs was greater among women than men but did not otherwise differ by age, race and ethnicity, baseline body mass index, or baseline hemoglobin A1c.
Meaning Except for the difference by sex, the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs for weight loss appears to be consistent across many important subpopulations of patients who may be eligible for treatment.