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Weight loss medications have been a hot topic in pop culture for months now. Celebrities have been seen undergoing major body weight transformations in relatively short amounts of time. Imagine a world where achieving your weight loss goals and bettering your health isn't just about counting calories or sweating it out at the gym, but as easy as a quick injection.
Using weight loss injections can be an effective way to manage weight, especially when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Medications like Tirzepatide and Semaglutide are two popular options. These injections work by regulating your appetite and helping your body manage blood sugar levels more efficiently, leading to weight loss.
The History of Trizepatide and Semaglutide
Originally, tirzepatide and semaglutide were developed for different purposes before their potential for weight loss was discovered. Tirzepatide was initially created to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It works by controlling appetite and blood sugar levels, which are important factors in managing diabetes.
Semaglutide was also designed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels. It does this by mimicking the action of a hormone called GLP-1, which helps the body produce insulin and reduces sugar production in the liver. Both medications were found to have an additional benefit: they helped people lose weight.
This discovery led to further research into their effectiveness as weight loss drugs, and they are now being studied and used specifically for this purpose. While tirzepatide and semaglutide were originally developed for diabetes management, their ability to aid in weight reduction has expanded their potential uses, offering new options for people struggling with obesity and its related health complications.
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide
Tirzepatide and semaglutide are both medications for weight loss, but they work in different ways. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist, meaning it targets two receptors to control appetite and blood sugar. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, focusing on one receptor to achieve similar effects. While both can help with weight loss, tirzepatide might be more effective for some people. However, they also have different side effects.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide, which you may have heard referred to by its brand names, Mounjaro and Zepbound, is a medication used to help people lose weight. Tirzepatide works by mimicking the effects of natural hormones in the body that control appetite and blood sugar levels.
The FDA has approved tirzepatide for treating obesity in adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher if they have weight-related health problems like diabetes. Studies have shown that tirzepatide can help people lose weight, sometimes even more than other weight loss medications.
Like any medication, it can cause side effects. Common side effects of tirzepatide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and injection site reactions. Doses of tirzepatide are generally injected under the skin once a week, and your doctor will determine the right dose for you based on your individual needs.
Semaglutide
You’ve likely heard the word “ozempic” thrown around, this is the brand name for a semaglutide. Semaglutide also has brand names Wegovy and Rybelsus. Semaglutide is a medication that helps with weight loss by acting on certain receptors in the body. It's a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics the action of a hormone called GLP-1. This hormone helps control appetite and blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide is FDA approved for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related health issue like type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It comes in an injectable form and is usually given once a week.
Studies have shown that semaglutide can help people lose weight, sometimes even more than other weight loss medications. However, similarly to tirzepatide, it can cause side effects. Some common side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.
How Do Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Work?
Tirzepatide and semaglutide both help with weight loss, but they work in different ways because they have different active ingredients. Tirzepatide uses a dual agonist approach, which means it targets two receptors in the body for appetite and glycemic control.
On the other hand, semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist, focusing on one receptor to achieve similar effects. These medications impact weight loss pathways by mimicking the action of natural hormones in the body that regulate appetite and blood glucose levels.
While both tirzepatide and semaglutide can be effective for weight loss, they have different mechanisms of action, which may make one more suitable than the other for certain individuals. Your doctor can help determine which medication is best for you based on your health and weight loss goals.
Clinical Trials for Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
In order for something to be FDA approved, it must undergo clinical trials that show the benefits of the medication outweighs the risks for its intended purpose. Because both tirzepatide and semaglutide are FDA approved for significant weight loss, this means that they have undergone clinical trials. Here are the results of a few studies that deemed these medications safe for weight loss:
Semaglutide Study
In a study of 175 patients, most of whom were women, it was found that after 3 months of taking semaglutide, they lost an average of about 6.7 kilograms, which is around 5.9% of their starting weight.
After 6 months, the weight loss increased to an average of 12.3 kilograms, which is about 10.9% of their starting weight. Almost 90% of the patients achieved a weight loss of 5% or more, with over half of them losing 10% or more of their weight. Some even achieved remarkable weight loss of 15% or 20%.
However, patients with type 2 diabetes tended to lose less weight compared to those without diabetes. These results show that semaglutide can be very effective in helping people lose weight, especially for those without diabetes.
Tirzepatide Study
In a clinical trial of tirzepatide, participants who completed a 36-week period saw their weight drop by an average of 20.9%. For about a year after the initial 36 week period, those who continued taking tirzepatide continued to lose weight, with a decrease of 5.5%, compared to a 14.0% increase in weight for those on the placebo.
This resulted in a significant difference of about 20 % between the two groups. At 88 weeks, Roughly 90% of those on tirzepatide maintained at least 80% of their weight loss from the lead-in period, compared to only about 17% on placebo. Overall, participants on tirzepatide experienced a 25.3% reduction in weight from the beginning of the trial to 88 weeks, while those on placebo saw a 9.9% reduction.
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Side Effects
Like any medication, using tirzepatide and semaglutide can come with some side effects. Understanding these side effects can help you create a plan to combat these negative side effects.
It's important to remember that not everyone will have these side effects, some might only experience them after they take a higher dose of medication, and some people might not have any at all. But if you do experience any side effects that bother you or don't go away, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can give you advice on how to manage them or suggest alternative treatments.
Muscle Loss
When taking a weight loss medication like semaglutide or tirzepatide, you will almost inevitably lose lean body mass along with fat. This can happen because these medications primarily target fat stores for weight loss. Losing muscle mass isn't ideal because muscles help us stay strong and maintain a healthy metabolism, and both of these things are necessary for living a long, high-quality, healthy life.
To combat muscle loss while on semaglutide or tirzepatide, it's important to include regular exercise in your routine. Strength training exercises, like lifting weights or using resistance bands, can help preserve and build muscle mass. Aim for at least two days of strength training per week, focusing on all major muscle groups.
Make sure you're getting enough protein in your diet. Protein is essential for muscle repair and growth. Include protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, nuts, and seeds in your meals and snacks.
Other Side Effects
When taking tirzepatide or semaglutide for weight loss, you might experience some side effects, but don't worry, they're usually not too serious. Common side effects include nausea, which is feeling like you might throw up, and vomiting, which is actually throwing up. You might also have some gastrointestinal distress like diarrhea, which means you might need to go to the bathroom more often and have loose stools.
Other side effects can include stomach pain or discomfort, which might make your tummy feel upset. Some people might feel a bit dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up quickly. You might also notice some changes in your appetite or taste, but these usually go away over time.
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