Obesity is a highly prevalent disease associated with several metabolic pathologies such as diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, and different types of cancer. However, since 1933, when the first pharmacological treatments for obesity appeared, their effectiveness and safety have been questioned, leading to the withdrawal of several drugs from the market. Currently, five drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are still in use for obesity control, of which GLP-1 analogs have demonstrated a better safety profile and moderate efficacy in reducing body weight. This literature review presents a historical analysis of anti-obesity drugs, focusing on their efficacy and adverse effects.