From the Guidelines
Tirzepatide can help patients achieve significant weight loss, typically ranging from 15-20% of total body weight over 72 weeks of treatment, with the highest dose of 15mg generally producing the most substantial weight loss results. The medication, marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight management, is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection starting at 2.5mg for the first 4 weeks, then gradually increasing to 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, and potentially up to 15mg based on response and tolerability 1. Patients should expect gradual weight loss that continues throughout the treatment period, with most seeing noticeable results within the first 3 months. Tirzepatide works by mimicking two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) that regulate appetite and food intake, helping patients feel fuller longer and reducing caloric consumption. For optimal results, tirzepatide should be combined with lifestyle modifications including calorie reduction and increased physical activity.
Some key points to consider when using tirzepatide for weight loss include:
- The medication has been shown to be effective in achieving significant weight loss, with a mean weight loss of 20.9% at 72 weeks in clinical trials 1
- The highest dose of 15mg generally produces the most substantial weight loss results, but the dose should be individualized based on response and tolerability
- Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, which often improve over time as the body adjusts to the medication
- Tirzepatide should be used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, including calorie reduction and increased physical activity, for optimal results
It's also important to note that tirzepatide has been compared to other weight loss medications, such as semaglutide and liraglutide, and has been shown to have a greater effect on weight loss 1. Additionally, tirzepatide has been recommended as a preferred pharmacotherapy for weight loss in patients with diabetes and overweight or obesity, due to its beneficial effects on weight and glycemic control 1. Overall, tirzepatide is a effective medication for weight loss, and can be a useful tool for patients who are struggling to achieve significant weight loss through lifestyle modifications alone.
From the FDA Drug Label
Tirzepatide lowers fasting and postprandial glucose concentration, decreases food intake, and reduces body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The weight loss achievable with tirzepatide is noted in the drug label as a reduction in body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, however, the exact amount of weight loss is not specified. 2
- Key points:
- Tirzepatide reduces body weight
- The exact amount of weight loss is not specified in the label
- Tirzepatide decreases food intake and delays gastric emptying, which may contribute to weight loss.
From the Research
Weight Loss Achievable with Tirzepatide
- Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that acts on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors, and it has been shown to be effective in achieving significant weight loss in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes 3, 4, 5, 6.
- In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, tirzepatide resulted in substantial reductions in body weight, with mean percent changes of -12.3%, -18.7%, and -19.7% with the 5-mg, 10-mg, and 15-mg doses, respectively, compared to -1.3% with placebo 4.
- The SURPASS program also demonstrated that tirzepatide reduced body weight by 5.4 to 12.9 kg over periods of treatment up to 104 weeks, and improved multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, including reduction in liver fat, new-onset macroalbuminuria, blood pressure, and lipids 5, 6.
- Additionally, tirzepatide has been shown to be effective in reducing body weight in individuals with rare obesity syndromes, such as Alström syndrome, with weight losses of -26.9% and -7.2% reported in two case studies 7.
- The weight loss achievable with tirzepatide is also associated with improvements in obesity-related complications, including sleep apnea, metabolic-dysfunction associated steatohepatitis, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and diabetes prevention 3, 4, 5, 6.