What the studies show
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 3,731 adults, 56 weeks: −8.0% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus −2.6% on placebo; 63% versus 27% lost at least 5%, 33% versus 11% at least 10%.
Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.
- 1Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).N Engl J Med, 2015; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa14118923,731 adults, 56 weeks.
In context
Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist and the drug that proved the class. In the 3,731-person SCALE trial it produced 8.0% weight loss at 56 weeks against 2.6% on placebo, and in the 9,340-person LEADER trial it cut major cardiovascular events by 13% and cardiovascular death by 22% in people with type 2 diabetes. It is approved almost everywhere, now generic, and less effective than the weekly drugs that followed it.
Liraglutide is approved (saxenda, victoza). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.
Questions
Is Liraglutide proven to help with body weight?
What studies are behind the grade?
Is Liraglutide approved for this?
Other outcomes for Liraglutide
- AMajor cardiovascular events1 large outcome RCT
- ABlood glucose (HbA1c)LEAD programme, 6 RCTs
- ABody weight (adolescents 12–17)1 RCT
- BBody weight (children 6–11)1 RCT
- AGI side effectsadverseAll trials
- AGallbladder eventsadverseSCALE + LEADER
Reviewed 3 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →