Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of ObesityAug 12, 2024

Safety and effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs for patients who regain weight or don’t lose enough after weight-loss surgery

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

The mean weight loss observed was 7.02 kg after treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists for ≤ 6 months.

Liraglutide and semaglutide were administered at maximum doses of 3 mg per day and 1 mg once weekly, respectively.
Weight loss and body mass index reductions were noted at different treatment durations, with the greatest loss occurring in the first 6 months.
Weekly semaglutide resulted in a mean weight loss that was 4.15 kg greater than that achieved with daily liraglutide.
Common side effects included nausea (19.1%), constipation (8.6%), abdominal pain (3.7%), and vomiting (2.4%).
GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with effective management of weight regain and insufficient weight loss after metabolic bariatric surgery.

Simplified

INTRODUCTION: Weight regain and insufficient weight loss are major challenges after metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), affecting patients' comorbidities and quality of life. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in patients with weight regain or insufficient weight loss after MBS.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to find the relevant studies.

RESULTS: A total of 19 articles were included. The highest doses of liraglutide and semaglutide were 3 mg per day and 1 mg once weekly, respectively, in the included studies. The mean differences in weight and body mass index after treatment were -7.02 kg or 3.07 kg/m, -8.65 or -5.22 kg/m, and -6.99 kg or -3.09 kg/mfor treatment durations of ≤ 6 months, 6-12 months, and >12 months with liraglutide, respectively. Additionally, weekly semaglutide showed significantly greater weight loss compared to daily liraglutide, with a mean difference of 4.15 kg. Common complications included nausea (19.1%), constipation (8.6%), abdominal pain (3.7%), and vomiting (2.4%). 2 2 2

CONCLUSION: Using GLP-1 RA is a safe and effective treatment for weight regain and insufficient weight loss after MBS.

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Safety and effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs for patients who regain weight or don’t lose enough after weight-loss surgery

Abstract

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