EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF SEMAGLUTIDE FOR WEIGHT LOSS PURPOSES: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat, representing a significant health risk. Semaglutide is an analogue of the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), mainly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recently, its use for weight loss has become popular due to its ability to suppress appetite, delay gastric emptying, stimulate insulin secretion and inhibit glucagon release, resulting in reduced blood glucose levels. However, the indiscriminate use of semaglutide for weight loss purposes can entail significant health risks. The objectives of this study were: to clarify the association between weight loss and semaglutide; to describe the main risks and benefits of semaglutide use; to analyze the importance of the pharmacist in the care and safety of patients using semaglutide. This is an integrative review of the literature on the effectiveness and safety of semaglutide for weight loss purposes. Articles were searched using the keywords: semaglutide; weight loss; adverse effects; pharmacovigilance and GLP-1. Articles published between 2019 and 2024, in English and Portuguese, obtained from the BVS, Pubmed and Google Scholar databases were included. According to the bibliographic survey carried out, 12 articles that presented similar characteristics, addressing the efficiency and safety of semaglutide, were analyzed in full. The studies highlighted that, although semaglutide is effective for weight loss, its misuse can lead to complications such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia and possible drug interactions. In addition, the literature pointed out the importance of strict multidisciplinary monitoring for the use of semaglutide, emphasizing that self-medication and lack of professional guidance increase the risks of adverse effects.