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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Mar;35(3):1127-1134.
doi: 10.1007/s11695-025-07723-w. Epub 2025 Feb 5.

The Efficacy of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists for Insufficient Weight Loss or Regain After Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Joseph Kellett  1 , Sara S Soliman  1 , Alicia Podwojniak  1 , Michelle Minkanic  1 , Gaurav Kumar  1 , Brandon Goodwin  1 , Hyo J Yang  2 , Jana K Elsawwah  2 , Zoltan H Nemeth  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Efficacy of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists for Insufficient Weight Loss or Regain After Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Joseph Kellett et al. Obes Surg. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a successful surgical option for obesity. However, many patients can experience insufficient weight loss and weight regain post-operatively. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have become available for effective weight loss treatment due to their effects of suppressing appetite, slowing gastric emptying, and promoting fat loss. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of using GLP-1 agonists to treat insufficient weight loss or regain after metabolic/bariatric surgery. Pooled analysis demonstrated that GLP-1 agonists have a moderate effect on weight loss after failed weight loss or weight regain following MBS, with a Cohen's d-score of 0.470 (p ≤ 0.001). GLP-1 agonists show promise and deserve additional research as part of the standard of care following MBS with insufficient weight loss.

Keywords: Body mass index (BMI); Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1); Meta-analysis; Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS); Obesity; Weight loss and weight regain.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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