Weight Reduction Heterogenicity and Mediators of GLP-1RAs and Dual Agonists for Individuals With Obesity: A Meta-Analysis
- Design
- Meta-analysis · 408 participants · Unknown outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Different population[Auto] Synthesis of studies conducted predominantly in people with obesity/overweight.
- Could weight loss explain it?
- Possibly[Auto] Participants had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and the abstract does not separate direct drug effects from weight loss or glycaemic improvement.
- Study tier
- Study tier 3[Auto] Systematic review/meta-analysis including observational studies (auto-provisional).
- Assessment
- Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 20, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
[Auto, unreviewed; last sentences of abstract] Comorbid Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) were negatively correlated with treatment response (all p < 0.05). Emotional state and metabolic comorbidities including T2DM, OSA and MAFLD are important influencing factors of the interindividual differences of weight loss efficacy of GLP-1RAs and dual agonists, providing evidence for personalized obesity management.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Tirzepatide
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 72 weeks
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Obesity status
- obesity/overweight present (all or most)
- Diabetes status
- diabetes mentioned
- Baseline condition
- obstructive sleep apnea
- Sample size
- 408
Study quality details
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Sample size
- 408
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- 72 weeks
- Outcome type
- unknown
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- CI reported: 95% CI 7
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and dual agonists have become pivotal options for obesity, but marked weight loss heterogeneity remains poorly understood. This meta-regression analysis aimed to identify factors influencing this heterogeneity. We searched Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to February 1, 2026, enrolling 32 eligible trials (40 408 participants) following PRISMA guidelines. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed using R software. Pooled analysis showed that GLP-1RAs and dual agonists achieved a weighted mean weight reduction of 9.36% (95% CI 7.92%-10.80%), with high interstudy heterogeneity (I2 = 99.6%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed that GLP-1/GIP dual agonists (tirzepatide) and longer treatment duration (≥ 72 weeks) yielded superior weight-lowering effects. Meta-regression demonstrated that baseline anxiety/depression was positively associated with weight loss efficacy (β = 2.44, p < 0.001, R2 = 81.34%). Comorbid Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) were negatively correlated with treatment response (all p < 0.05). Emotional state and metabolic comorbidities including T2DM, OSA and MAFLD are important influencing factors of the interindividual differences of weight loss efficacy of GLP-1RAs and dual agonists, providing evidence for personalized obesity management.