MILAN — Researchers presented findings at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting indicating that GLP-1 receptor agonists yield greater weight loss in women than men but are linked to higher side effect rates and potential early pregnancy risks. The meeting took place in Milan, Italy, from September 28 to October 2, 2026.

Weight loss with GLP-1 receptor agonists is greater in women than in men, while improvements in blood sugar control are comparable. A 2025 real-world study of 7,847 individuals with type 2 diabetes found women achieved greater weight loss than men after GLP-1RA initiation, with an adjusted mean difference of -1.1 kg (p < 0.001) and 66.5% of women achieving ≥5% weight loss versus 58.0% of men.

Real-world studies show a higher overall frequency of reported side effects in women treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists compared to men, including increased rates of headache, vomiting, and dizziness. Placebo-controlled trials suggest similar rates of side effects for GLP-1 receptor agonists in both sexes.

A meta-analysis of women exposed to GLP-1 RAs suggested no associations between exposure and risk of preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal death, caesarean section, pregnancy hypertensive disorders, pre-eclampsia, or small-for-gestational age infant. Early pregnancy loss was 31% more common among women exposed to GLP-1 RAs in two studies comprising 41,046 women.

Professor Claire Meek of Leicester Diabetes Research Centre co-authored a 2026 meta-analysis of women exposed to GLP-1RAs, which formed the basis for the first international consensus recommendations on their use during pregnancy and lactation. The 2026 EASD meeting marked the first international consensus on GLP-1RA use across the reproductive journey, building on prior 2025 research showing sex-specific differences in GLP-1RA response and safety profiles. Meek said that as new weight loss medications enter clinical practice at pace, generating robust evidence for women before, during, and after pregnancy has never been more urgent.

Dr. Karen Hvid of Copenhagen University Hospital presented research at the EASD meeting comparing coronary heart disease risk in individuals with a BMI of 25-26.9 to those eligible for GLP-1 RAs. The study by Dr. Hvid used data from the UK Biobank and the Copenhagen General Population Study, covering 313,145 individuals with a BMI of 25 or above. Hvid said that about half of people with a BMI of 25-26.9 had levels of cholesterol and/or inflammation that increased their risk of heart problems.

They had a similar risk of coronary heart disease as those who were eligible for GLP1-RAs for weight loss – but, as things stand, they would not be prescribed them, Hvid said. The study makes the case for extending the indication to this group, she said.

Research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology shows that weekly injections of petrelintide enabled participants to lose more than 10% of their body weight in a phase 2 trial. Professor Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an author of the petrelintide study.

The petrelintide phase 2 trial took place across 32 sites in the USA, Poland, and Romania from December 9, 2024, to February 25, 2025. In the petrelintide trial, 485 participants were randomly assigned and dosed with once-weekly subcutaneous injections of petrelintide or placebo. Mean percentage change in bodyweight from baseline after 42 weeks was -10.7% for 5.0 mg petrelintide and -1.7% for the placebo group. The most common adverse event with petrelintide was nausea, affecting 20% of participants compared to 6% in the placebo group.

Nearly 80% of adults who meet clinical eligibility criteria for GLP-1 receptor agonists live in low- and middle-income countries, where access remains minimal. In many low- and middle-income settings, retail prices for GLP-1 receptor agonists exceed $90 per month. Independent manufacturing estimates suggest semaglutide could be manufactured for below $1 per month for oral supply and $5 per month for injections. Tackling the global challenges in access to GLP-1 receptor agonists provides substantial opportunities to improve women's health internationally, the authors state.

Why It Matters

The Global Burden of Disease group estimated the global prevalence of overweight or obesity in 2021 to be 46.7% in females and 43.4% in males. Projections for 2050 estimate the global prevalence of overweight or obesity will reach 60.3% in females and 57.4% in males. A consensus report on the management of type 2 diabetes was published in Diabetologia in 2026 by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).

Timeline

In 2021, the Global Burden of Disease group estimated the global prevalence of overweight or obesity to be 46.7% in females and 43.4% in males.

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes held its Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, from September 28 to October 2, 2026. The Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) concluded on October 2, 2026, in Milan, Italy.

What's New

Research titled "Researchers presented 6000 papers at a major meeting. Could AI reproduce their findings?" was published in 2026 in AAAS Articles DO Group. Hvid said that they had a similar risk of coronary heart disease as those who were eligible for GLP1-RAs for weight loss – but, as things stand, they would not be prescribed them.

Professor Paul Franks of Lund University contributed to a paper on GLP-1 receptor agonist use in women, presented at the EASD Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy.

Hvid said the study makes the case for extending the indication to this group.

Garvey said that the amylins still cause some nausea, but it’s at less than half the rate of what we generally see in GLP-1 trials.