RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical studies on anti-obesity medications in Arab countries
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 459
OP 477
DO 10.15537/smj.2025.46.5.20250126
VO 46
IS 5
A1 AlOtaibi, Haifa F.
A1 Al Taib, Hanan N.
A1 AlMuhaidib, Shadan
A1 Alshagrawi, Saud
A1 Almufarrih, Abdulmalik
A1 Alalmai, Ola
A1 Alnaserallah, Sahar
A1 Alodah, Najla
A1 Alqahtani, Saleh A.
A1 Alhazzani, Waleed
YR 2025
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/46/5/459.abstract
AB Objectives: To identify and summarize studies carried out in Arab countries on anti-obesity medications (AOMs), with a focus on the types of medications investigated, study designs, and the efficacy/effectiveness and safety metrics reported.Methods: We carried out a comprehensive scoping review of primary studies examining the use of AOMs in adult Arab populations. Five databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and e-Marefa) were searched for English-language publications up to October 2024. Data extraction was carried out on study characteristics, participant demographics, interventions, and outcomes related to weight reduction, metabolic parameters, and side effects. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-randomized studies and a modified RoB tool for randomized controlled trials.Results: A total of 59 clinical studies published between 2014-2024 were included. The majority (89.8%) were observational in design. Most studies were carried out in Saudi Arabia (40.7%) and the United Arab Emirates (20.3%). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists were investigated in 72.9% of the studies, with liraglutide being the most frequently studied agent (54.2%). The most commonly reported efficacy outcomes included changes in total body weight (45.8%), body mass index (39.0%), and the proportion of weight loss (28.8%). Gastrointestinal side effects were reported in 32.2% of patients across studies.Conclusion: Despite the growing body of research on AOMs in Arab countries, most studies remain observational and focus primarily on earlier-generation agents. There is a need for randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of newer AOMs, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, within Arab populations to inform culturally and genetically tailored obesity management strategies.