Ismail A, Amer MS, Tawheed A. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: Evolution, gastrointestinal adverse effects, and future directions. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2025; 16(3): 107148 [DOI: 10.4292/wjgpt.v16.i3.107148]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ahmed Tawheed, Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology, Firat University, Firat Campus, Elazig 23119, Türkiye. atawheed1990@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Ahmed Tawheed, Department of Gastroenterology, Firat University, Elazig 23119, Türkiye
Author contributions: Ismail A wrote the manuscript; Amer MS conducted the database search; Tawheed A provided important technical details, revised the manuscript, and designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; all authors have contributed to this article and have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ahmed Tawheed, Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology, Firat University, Firat Campus, Elazig 23119, Türkiye. atawheed1990@gmail.com
Received: March 17, 2025 Revised: April 30, 2025 Accepted: June 26, 2025 Published online: September 5, 2025 Processing time: 172 Days and 0.1 Hours
Abstract
Obesity is a global pandemic that has been threatening the worldwide population. It has been reported to be associated with an increase in the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, and other diseases, including some malignancies. Currently, the first line of management includes lifestyle modifications. However, recently, bariatric surgeries were introduced to combat obesity. The previous modalities of management are always challenging since lifestyle could have limited long-term effectiveness and difficulty to achieve, and surgeries are invasive and also require a lifestyle modification and commitment. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were initially introduced as a rising star for managing T2DM, with patients benefiting from the control of blood sugar and weight loss. These medications work by enhancing feelings of fullness, slowing down digestion, and ultimately reducing calorie intake. However, GLP-1RAs are not without side effects and have some costs. Common side effects include gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a lack of GI motility, which is the main mechanism through which the drug induces a feeling of fullness and promotes weight loss, potentially resulting in treatment discontinuation. More serious, though less frequent, risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder diseases, and, rarely, thyroid C-cell cancers. This review aimed to discuss the globally emerging role of GLP-1RAs in obesity management and highlight some safety considerations for patients taking these drugs.
Core Tip: Obesity is a global pandemic causing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modifications and bariatric surgeries are the primary management methods. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a rising star for managing T2DM by controlling blood sugar and weight loss. However, they have side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events. More serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder diseases, and thyroid C-cell cancers. This review discusses GLP-1RAs' role in obesity management and GI safety considerations.
