Volume 29, Issue 157, March 2025

The review of modern prospects for the pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications – The role of GLP- 1, GLP1 / GIP, GLP1 / GIP / GCG receptor agonists

Grzebyk M^1♦, Tokarska A², Arnista A³, Świątko M⁴, Sosnowski P², Rybak J⁵, Waszczuk A⁶, Kołodziejczyk A⁷, Gawrońska K⁸

¹Orangemedica, lek. Marcin Grzebyk, gen. Augusta Emila Fieldorfa Nila 10 lok. 317, 03-984 Warsaw, Poland
²Central Clinical Hospital, Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
³Military Institute of Medicine–National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
⁴District Hospital in Sochaczew, Batalionów Chłopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
⁵Father Jerzy Popiełuszko “Bielański” Hospital, Independent Public Health Care Institution in Warsaw, Cegłowska 80, 01-809, Warsaw, Poland
⁶The Provincial Specialist Hospital in Biała Podlaska, Terebelska 57-65, 21-500, Biała Podlaska, Poland
⁷District Hospital in Grójec, 05-600 Piotra Skargi 10, Grójec, Poland
⁸Specialized Provincial Hospital in Ciechanów, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 2, 06-400 Ciechanów, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
Orangemedica, lek. Marcin Grzebyk, gen. Augusta Emila Fieldorfa Nila 10 lok. 317, 03- 984 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Obesity has emerged as a global epidemic and a chronic neuroendocrine condition, significantly contributing to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. It is a key predictor of numerous health complications, including diabetic nephropathy, hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), heart failure, degenerative diseases. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has been observed in obese people, which indicates a possible link between the obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. Obese patients are more likely to develop complications such as sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. Lifestyle changes and diet are currently the only accepted treatment of obesity, but researchers have been looking for a good pharmacological therapy to supplement them. The objective of this review is to examine the therapeutic potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists in obesity treatment and its complications, summarizing key clinical trials and outlining future directions for the development of more potent weight-reducing agents, such as Retaglutide. A total of 40 studies retrieved from the New England Medical Journal (nejm.com) were analyzed, focusing on the clinical efficacy of liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, other less commonly discussed GLP-1 receptor agonists in weight management and metabolic health. This review highlights the expanding role of these agents beyond their primary metabolic applications, offering insights into their evolving therapeutic potential in broader clinical contexts.

Keywords: Obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists, weight management, obesity pharmacotherapy

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e50ms3543

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i157.e50ms3543

Published: 09 March 2025