A recent study suggests that tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro, is the most powerful weight loss injection currently approved on the NHS. The drug, developed by Eli Lilly, was initially designed for diabetes management but has shown promising results in helping patients lose weight.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, analyzed 22 previous studies on tirzepatide and compared its effectiveness to semaglutide, also known as Wegovy or Ozempic. The results revealed that tirzepatide helped patients lose an average of 5kg more than semaglutide.
Tirzepatide works by increasing feelings of fullness and slowing down digestion, allowing individuals to eat less and still feel satisfied. Previous research has shown that overweight individuals lost over two stone (approximately 13kg) in just 18 months while using the drug, which was significantly more than those who relied solely on diet and exercise.
Eli Lilly recently gained approval for tirzepatide to be used in diabetic patients on the NHS. The company is also seeking approval for its use in obesity and weight loss management. This is significant considering semaglutide is currently facing supply shortages, leading to patients being prescribed it off-label for weight management.
The study also compared different dosages of tirzepatide and semaglutide to assess their effectiveness. The highest dosage of tirzepatide (15mg) resulted in a weight loss of 5.72kg more than the highest dosage of semaglutide (2mg). Similar trends were observed across the different dosages, with tirzepatide consistently outperforming semaglutide.
Dr. Thomas Karagiannis, one of the researchers involved in the study, highlighted the superiority of tirzepatide, especially at higher dosages. He emphasized that tirzepatide has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in both weight loss and blood sugar reduction compared to semaglutide.
This study provides further evidence for the effectiveness of tirzepatide in weight loss and diabetes management. With its approval on the NHS, tirzepatide has the potential to significantly impact the lives of individuals struggling with obesity and overweight-related health conditions.
Sources:
– Reuters