The short answer
Daily liraglutide produced more weight loss than placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study tested two doses alongside diet and activity support.
Who took part?
Researchers randomized 846 adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes to liraglutide 3.0 mg, liraglutide 1.8 mg, or placebo for 56 weeks.
Percent of starting weight
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Liraglutide 3.0 mg | 6.0% |
| Liraglutide 1.8 mg | 4.7% |
| Placebo | 2.0% |
What changed?
Estimated average weight loss was:
6.0% with liraglutide 3.0 mg.
4.7% with liraglutide 1.8 mg.
2.0% with placebo.
These estimates account for missing measurements. They differ slightly from averages using only observed measurements.
What were the trade-offs?
Digestive problems were more common with the 3.0 mg dose than with the lower dose or placebo. The trial does not establish how the benefits and risks balance over many years.
What this means
This is evidence from people with diabetes, rather than assuming results from a different population apply unchanged. It is not a comparison with semaglutide or tirzepatide, or a reason to change a prescribed dose.
Sources
Davies and colleagues, JAMA, 2015, funded by Novo Nordisk. Published correction.