Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease associated with metabolic, endocrine, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine alterations. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have become important therapies for obesity due to their effects on appetite regulation, food intake, glycemic control, and body weight. This qualitative literature review aimed to examine the physiological mechanisms of GLP-1 signaling and the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on weight loss, body composition, skeletal muscle, metabolic function, and potential cutaneous and musculoskeletal implications. A bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, Web of Science, the Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar. The available evidence indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists promote weight reduction primarily through reduced appetite and food intake, increased satiety, delayed gastric emptying, and broader metabolic effects. Although substantial weight loss may be accompanied by reductions in lean mass and skeletal muscle, current evidence does not indicate that muscle loss is necessarily disproportionate to overall weight reduction. Preservation of muscle mass and quality appears to be influenced by nutritional status and physical activity, particularly resistance exercise. Emerging dual, triple, and oral small-molecule therapies may further expand the therapeutic potential of GLP-1-based pharmacology, although their long-term effects remain under investigation. Overall, the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists should be evaluated not only by the magnitude of weight loss but also by their effects on body composition, metabolic health, physical function, and tissue integrity.