New research reviews show that some weight loss drugs can help people lose a lot of weight.
But they also raise important questions—like how safe these drugs are in the long run, and whether everyone will have fair access to them.
Three new reviews by the Cochrane group were asked for by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help guide new rules on using these drugs to treat obesity.
The reviews looked at three medications: tirzepatide, semaglutide, and liraglutide.
These drugs are part of a group called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They were originally made to help people with type 2 diabetes, and they work by mimicking a natural hormone that helps control hunger and blood sugar.
The reviews found that all three drugs helped people lose a lot of weight when compared to a placebo, which is a fake treatment.
People who took tirzepatide lost the most weight—around 16% of their body weight after about a year. Semaglutide helped people lose about 11%, and liraglutide helped with about 4% to 5% weight loss.
Tirzepatide and semaglutide are taken once a week as injections. Liraglutide needs to be injected every day. While all of them caused some stomach-related side effects like nausea and diarrhea, the weight loss results were significant.
But these reviews also showed that there’s not enough long-term information yet. For example, it’s still unclear how well these drugs work beyond two to three years or what happens when people stop taking them. Some people may gain the weight back.
One big concern is that most of the studies were paid for and run by the drug companies that make these medications. This raises questions about whether the results are truly unbiased. More independent research is needed to confirm the findings and look at other important health effects like heart health, quality of life, and how long people live.
Another concern is that the drugs are very expensive. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are protected by patents, meaning cheaper versions aren’t available yet. Only liraglutide has a generic version, which is more affordable. The high cost of these drugs means many people—especially those in low-income areas or countries—may not be able to get them.
Most of the studies were done in wealthier countries like the U.S. and Europe. There was little to no data from regions like Africa, Central America, or Southeast Asia. This matters because people in different parts of the world may respond differently to these drugs based on their diet, body type, and lifestyle.
Experts say we need more studies that look at people from a wider range of backgrounds. They also say that doctors and policymakers should think carefully about who gets access to these medications, how they’re paid for, and whether they are used fairly.
In short, these new drugs may offer real help for people struggling with obesity, but there are still many unknowns. More research is needed—especially studies not funded by the drug companies—to understand how these drugs affect people over the long term.
And to make sure that people around the world have a fair chance to benefit from them, issues like cost, availability, and safety need to be addressed.
If you care about obesity, please read studies about Scientists find two big contributors to obesity and findings of Higher dose of this diabetes med could improve blood sugar and weight loss.
If you care about obesity, please read studies about Scientists find new key cause of obesity and findings of Double whammy: diabetes drug also knocks out obesity.
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