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Molecular mechanisms of semaglutide and liraglutide as a therapeutic option for obesity.

Front Nutr · 2024

Last updated 2026-05-28

Semaglutide and liraglutide are medications originally developed for type 2 diabetes that have also been studied for treating obesity. These drugs work by affecting appetite, insulin release, blood sugar control, energy use, and fat processing in the body. Clinical trials have shown they can help with weight loss and are considered safe for managing obesity.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalFront Nutr, 2024
Citations45
Relative citation ratio10.43
NIH percentile98
Molecules semaglutide, liraglutide
Conditions studied Obesity

Abstract

Obesity, a chronic global health problem, is associated with an increase in various comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. The increasing global prevalence of obesity requires research into new therapeutic strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, specifically semaglutide and liraglutide, designed for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment, have been explored as drugs for the treatment of obesity. This minireview describes the molecular mechanisms of semaglutide and liraglutide in different metabolic pathways, and its mechanism of action in processes such as appetite regulation, insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, energy expenditure, and lipid metabolism. Finally, several clinical trial outcomes are described to show the safety and efficacy of these drugs in obesity management.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 38742021 ↗

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