A single centre retrospective study of the long‑term weight and pregnancy-related outcomes in women of reproductive age before and after liraglutide exposure

In this retrospective study, women who stopped liraglutide before pregnancy regained weight but did not show excess gestational weight gain or worse pregnancy outcomes compared with their own prior pregnancies. Conception after liraglutide was linked to greater long-term weight regain than no conception. The authors saw no increase in adverse gestational outcomes after liraglutide exposure.

Journal article — Retrospective single-centre cohort study. Population: Women of reproductive age initiated on liraglutide for obesity management. Sample size: 556 women. Follow-up: 2-5 years follow-up. Interventions: liraglutide.

Among 556 women, 97 (17.4%) conceived and 459 (82.6%) did not after liraglutide exposure. Over 2-5 years, final weight change differed significantly between those who conceived and those who did not (+1.1 ± 11.3% vs -6.7 ± 9.9%, p < 0.001). Gestational weight change was similar in pre- and post-exposure pregnancies (8.0 ± 10.9% vs 9.2 ± 11.8%, p = 0.554). No significant differences were found for gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, c-section, pre-term delivery, large for gestational age, or small for gestational age in pre- vs post-exposure pregnancies. Metformin use during pregnancy was associated with lower, though not statistically significant, gestational weight gain (5.8 ± 9.1 kg vs 8.2 ± 9.5 kg, p = 0.369).

This paper adds within-individual data on pregnancies before and after liraglutide, which is directly relevant for researchers studying GLP-1 receptor agonists and reproductive outcomes. It does not establish causality, nor does it address safety of continuing liraglutide during pregnancy. The small number of post-exposure pregnancies limits its precision.

Key findings

• Mean final weight change was +1.1 ± 11.3% in women who conceived vs -6.7 ± 9.9% in those who did not (p < 0.001).
• Nadir weight reduction on liraglutide in women who conceived was -6.2 ± 7.8%.
• Gestational weight change was similar in pre- and post-exposure pregnancies: 8.0 ± 10.9% vs 9.2 ± 11.8% (p = 0.554).
• There were no significant differences in gestational diabetes (32.1% vs 37.7%, p = 0.629), hypertensive disorders (9.2% vs 0%, p = 0.063), c-section (33.3% vs 38.9%, p = 0.549), pre-term delivery (3.7% vs 1.9%, p = 0.500), large for gestational age (5.5% vs 5.5%, p = 1) or small for gestational age (11.1% vs 9.3%, p = 1) in pre- vs post-exposure pregnancies.
• Inconsistent obesity medication use was reported in 100% of women who conceived vs 36.5% of those who did not.

Limitations

• Small sample size for post-exposure pregnancies.
• Retrospective single-centre design.
• Within-individual comparison may still be confounded by time-varying factors.
• High proportion of inconsistent obesity medication use in those who conceived, limiting interpretation.

The record

• Journal: International journal of obesity (2005)
• Published: 2026-05-22
• PMID: 42174221 — DOI: 10.1038/s41366-026-02111-5
• Author countries: Qatar, UK, USA

Peptide profiles: Liraglutide.

All indexed evidence: Liraglutide trials & papers.

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