Evaluating the clinical effectiveness of liraglutide and dietary adjustments for weight management
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Date
2025
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UMT, Lahore
Abstract
Obesity is a long-term, multifactorial disease linked with serious health complications. The therapeutic approach combined a low-calorie diet with pharmacological treatment using Liraglutide. This clinical study was meant to compare the effectiveness of Liraglutide (Saxenda) along with dietary modifications versus dietary modifications alone in achieving weight loss among overweight and obese adults. A 12-week, controlled clinical trial was conducted, enrolling participants aged 20–50 years with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group receiving Liraglutide alongside a reduced-calorie diet, and a control group following only dietary modifications. Anthropometric measurements were recorded fortnightly and biochemical parameters by start and then at the end of the trial. The results concluded a significantly higher reduction in body weight, waist circumference, BMI, MUAC, and other key measurements in the Liraglutide group compared to controls. Additionally, Liraglutide improved HbA1C levels over the study period. The study confirms that Liraglutide, when used in conjunction with dietary changes, offers enhanced weight loss and body composition improvements over diet alone. Some participants in the Liraglutide group reported gastrointestinal side effects and mild elevations in liver enzymes. However, these adverse effects did not significantly hinder weight loss outcomes during the study period. These findings support Liraglutide as an effective pharmacological adjunct in short-term obesity management, particularly for individuals struggling to achieve sufficient weight loss through lifestyle modification alone.