Mental health outcomes in obesity interventions with GLP-1 receptor agonists: is it similar to other obesity interventions? A narrative review with systematic evidence synthesis
Authors' conclusion
The current evidence suggests that most weight loss interventions are psychologically safe or beneficial, but long-term data remain limited, particularly for GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery for weight loss; meta-analyses, systematic reviews and clinical trials
- Outcome
- Mental health outcomes:
- Quality of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicidality
Methodological detailsliterature review of MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane up to June 2025
- Literature review of MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane up to June 2025
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Behavioral interventions: no harm to mental health; modest improvements in depression and mental health-related quality of life
- Bariatric surgery: short-to-medium-term reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms; long-term benefits attenuated, some studies reporting increased suicidality after five years
- Pharmacotherapies (orlistat, bupropion/naltrexone, phentermine/topiramate): mixed psychiatric impacts
- GLP-1 RA: improvement in patient-reported mental wellbeing in several trials
- Narrative summary
Safety
Suicidality with GLP-1 RA
- Pharmacovigilance data initially suggested a possible link with suicidality; subsequent robust cohort studies and meta-analyses refuted this association
Original publication
Mental health outcomes in obesity interventions with GLP-1 receptor agonists: is it similar to other obesity interventions? A narrative review with systematic evidence synthesis. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 5 January 2026. doi:10.
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