July 8, 2026 · BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2026-372161

Comparative effects of drugs for adults with overweight or obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis

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The authors aimed to evaluate the comparative benefits and harms of various pharmacological treatments for adults with overweight or obesity through a systematic review and network meta-analysis. They found that while several drugs, particularly tirzepatide and CagriSema, led to significant weight loss compared to lifestyle modifications, these benefits were often accompanied by increased risks of adverse events. Additionally, most medications did not meaningfully improve quality of life or show substantial cardiovascular benefits, highlighting the need for careful consideration of trade-offs in clinical decision-making.

Kailei Nong, Qingyang Shi, Xinran Xie, Yang Wang, Arnav Agarwal, Gordon H Guyatt, Haojie Zhang, Yiyuan Gao, Kamlesh Khunti, Carel W Le Roux, Indah S Widyahening, Qinlin Fan, Tianyou Liu, Yunhe Mao, Ivan D Florez, Heyue Du, Xiaohui Pan, Xinyu Zou, Chaoyang Wang, Xiaodong Sun, Jing Li, Qiukui Hao, Qingyi Jia, Feng Sun, Zhiming Zhu, Thomas Agoritsas, Haoming Tian, Per Olav Vandvik, Sheyu Li

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