The effects of fluoxetine on body weight, waist circumference, and body mass index in individuals who are overweight or have obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Pooled result · BWResult — go to the resultWMD −2.095 kgAuthors' conclusion
Fluoxetine administration is associated with a reduction in BW, particularly when prescribed at doses ≥60 mg/day, during short-term interventions (≤3 months), and in individuals living with obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals who are overweight or have obesity; Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and EMBASE before Jun 28, 202522 RCT arms on body weight (BW)
- Participants
- 2,348 individuals
- Comparison
- Fluoxetine vs placebo
- Fluoxetinen = 1,182
- Placebon = 1,166reference
- Outcome
- Body weight (BW)
Methodological detailsDerSimonian and Laird random effects model
- DerSimonian and Laird random effects model
Pooled result
BW
Weighted mean differences (WMD)
−2.095 kg
P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
- Heterogeneity I²
- 84.7%, P < 0.001
Further pooled results
BW by dose
- Dose ≥60 mg/day: WMD (kg), p < 0.001
- −2.759
- Dose <60 mg/day: WMD (kg), p = 0.001
- −1.017
BW by trial duration
- ≤12 weeks: WMD (kg), p < 0.001
- −3.000
- >12 weeks: WMD (kg), p = 0.047
- −1.114
BW by weight status
- Obesity: WMD (kg), p < 0.001
- −2.246
- Overweight: WMD (kg), p < 0.001
- −1.972
Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI)
- Fluoxetine did not impact waist circumference (WC) (2 RCT arms, 77 individuals) or BMI (4 RCT arms, 215 individuals)
Original publication
The effects of fluoxetine on body weight, waist circumference, and body mass index in individuals who are overweight or have obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 26 August 2025. doi:10.
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