Last updated August 16, 2026
Key finding
GLP-1RA treatment improved glucose handling.
This study compared the effects of GLP-1RA treatment and lifestyle-induced weight loss in participants with MASLD, finding significant improvements in glucose handling and fasting lipids with GLP-1RA.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Long-Term (1–5 y)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
This study compared the effects of GLP-1RA treatment and lifestyle-induced weight loss in participants with MASLD, finding significant improvements in glucose handling and fasting lipids with GLP-1RA.
These findings are clinically significant as they suggest that GLP-1RA treatment can provide additional metabolic benefits beyond weight loss alone, which is crucial for managing MASLD and its associated risks. Understanding the comparative effectiveness of these interventions can help guide treatment decisions for patients.
The study's sample size may limit generalizability. Effectiveness of interventions was unclear for some outcomes. Long-term effects post-treatment were not assessed.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Ahmad M, Toryn P, Nantia O, et al. Comparative effects of GLP-1RA treatment versus lifestyle-induced weight loss in MASLD. JHEP Reports. 2025;7(5):101363. doi:10.1016/j.jhepr.2025.101363
GLP-1RA treatment improved glucose handling (1.5 units increase, p=0.01).
GLP-1RA treatment significantly decreased fasting lipids (-0.5 mmol/L, p=0.02).
GLP-1RA treatment significantly decreased de novo lipogenesis (-2%, p=0.03).
Evidence network
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
This study contributes evidence to Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes, Liraglutide and Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention, Proportion of participants achieving weight loss of 5% or more at 52 weeks, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and 7 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes
Primary outcomes
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.
Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
2
Related topics
10
Evidence pairs
77
Related studies
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Save studies and evidence pages, organize your personal Evidence Tracker, and keep the research you care about in one place.
Primary evidence
Evidence relationship
Related evidence
Evidence topic
Save evidence
Evidence topic
Save evidence
Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Proportion of participants achieving weight loss of 5% or more at 52 weeks
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes → Proportion of participants achieving weight loss of 5% or more at 52 weeks
Liraglutide → Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Liraglutide → Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Liraglutide → Changes in Circulating MMP-10 Levels After GLP-1RA Withdrawal
Liraglutide → Changes in Circulating MMP-10 Levels After GLP-1RA Withdrawal
Liraglutide → Changes in FGF-23 levels after GLP-1RA withdrawal
Liraglutide → Changes in FGF-23 levels after GLP-1RA withdrawal
Liraglutide → Changes in Flt3L levels after GLP-1RA withdrawal
Liraglutide → Changes in Flt3L levels after GLP-1RA withdrawal
Liraglutide → Improvement in glucose handling following GLP-1RA treatment
Liraglutide → Improvement in glucose handling following GLP-1RA treatment
Liraglutide → Reduction in de novo lipogenesis following GLP-1RA treatment
Liraglutide → Reduction in de novo lipogenesis following GLP-1RA treatment
Evidence Library
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Evidence Library
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.
Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes and Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention, Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes and Weight Loss Outcomes.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Medications
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention
Measures Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention as a key outcome.
All studies on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Contributes to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists evidence base.
All studies on Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes
Contributes to Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes evidence base.
All studies measuring lipids
Measures lipids as a key outcome.
All studies measuring Weight Loss Outcomes
Measures Weight Loss Outcomes as a key outcome.
Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may improve Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 9 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes appears to improve Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Changes in liver steatosis after lifestyle intervention
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Lifestyle intervention for prediabetes appears to improve Proportion of participants achieving weight loss of 5% or more at 52 weeks.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Proportion of participants achieving weight loss of 5% or more at 52 weeks
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Liraglutide appears to improve Improvement in glucose handling following GLP-1RA treatment.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Improvement in glucose handling following GLP-1RA treatment
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Next steps
Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.
Follow the topics this study contributes to.
Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.
Read related research summaries.
Focused on evidence, not advertising.
Your data is always protected.
New studies added every day.
