USE OF GLP-1 AGONISTS AS A WEIGHT LOSS STRATEGY: EFFICACY AND ADVERSE REACTIONS OF INJECTABLE MEDICINES

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic and multifactorial condition that has been consolidated as one of the two main global public health challenges, associated with the increase in the risk of metabolic, cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. Due to the limitations of conventional approaches, such as diet and physical activity, glucagon type 1 (GLP-1) peptide agonists are gaining importance as an effective pharmacological alternative for controlling body weight. This study aims to analyze the effects of using GLP-1 agonists as a weight loss strategy, considering their clinical effectiveness and the main adverse effects reported. This is a qualitative research, an integrative literature review type, based on scientific articles, official documents and medicines bulletins published between 2020 and 2025, in the SciELO, PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases. The results indicate that drugs such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide promote an average reduction of 8% to 25% of body weight, with significant improvements in metabolic parameters, such as glycemia, blood pressure and lipid profile. The most common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting and constipation, usually mild and temporary, but also rare events, such as pancreatitis and bile disturbances, including running. It is concluded that GLP-1 agonists represent a promising and safe tool in the management of obesity, since they are used under prescription and with adequate medical accompaniment.