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Weight loss

Liraglutide

A daily GLP-1 receptor agonist with strong obesity-trial evidence for clinically meaningful weight loss, balanced against gastrointestinal effects, cost, and regain after stopping.

Strong
Evidence rating
Evidence review

What the evidence says

Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for chronic weight management at the obesity dose when eligibility criteria are met. It reduces appetite and energy intake, and is intended to accompany a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity rather than replace ongoing care.[3]

In the 56-week SCALE trial of 3,731 adults without diabetes, average weight change was about -8.0% with liraglutide versus -2.6% with placebo; 63.2% versus 27.1% lost at least 5%. Trial averages include responders, nonresponders, and people who discontinued treatment.[1]

Among participants with prediabetes, three years of assigned treatment produced greater weight loss and delayed progression to type 2 diabetes. Because many participants withdrew and the analysis covered time on treatment, it does not prove permanent prevention after the drug is stopped.[2]

Systematic reviews support clinically useful weight loss across GLP-1 medicines but show that weight commonly returns after discontinuation. Obesity is generally managed as a chronic condition, so affordability, tolerability, supply, and willingness to continue are part of the expected benefit.[4][5]

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal symptoms, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis warnings, heart-rate increase, kidney injury related to dehydration, and a boxed thyroid C-cell tumor warning shape prescribing and monitoring. It is contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2.[3]

Potential benefits

  • Produces substantially more average weight loss than lifestyle advice plus placebo over one year.[1]
  • Can improve glycemic and cardiometabolic risk factors and delay diabetes onset during treatment in people with prediabetes.[2]

Side effects and cautions

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms are common and can lead to discontinuation; gallbladder and dehydration-related kidney risks require attention.[3]
  • Stopping commonly leads to clinically meaningful weight regain.[5]
How we scored it

Evidence breakdown

Large randomized trials show sustained average weight loss and delayed diabetes onset during treatment, with well-characterized adverse effects and substantial post-treatment regain.

Clinical relevanceHigh

Trials measure body weight, cardiometabolic markers, diabetes onset, and discontinuation.

Study qualityHigh

Evidence includes large multicenter placebo-controlled trials lasting up to three years.

Safety dataHigh

Regulatory labeling and extensive diabetes and obesity exposure define major risks.

References

Full source list

  1. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management

    The New England Journal of Medicine · 2015

  2. 3 years of liraglutide versus placebo for type 2 diabetes risk reduction and weight management in individuals with prediabetes

    The Lancet · 2017

  3. Saxenda (liraglutide) prescribing information

    DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · 2025

  4. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for adults with overweight or obesity

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2025

  5. Weight regain after discontinuation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Obesity Reviews · 2025