Unlocking weight loss. Mounjaro's triumph over obesity challenges
17.10.2023 posted by Admin
A recent trial has showcased the effectiveness of Mounjaro, a medication typically used to treat diabetes, in combatting obesity. People who incorporated tirzepatide (Mounjaro) into their diet and exercise routine experienced significantly more sustained weight loss compared to those who took a placebo, according to Dr. Jeff Emmick, the senior vice president of product development at Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind the drug. While adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial for managing obesity, this study highlights the challenges many individuals face in maintaining weight loss through diet and exercise alone.
Even though Mounjaro received approval for diabetes treatment in May 2022, it has been employed "off-label" for addressing obesity.
Tirzepatide operates by targeting two hormones that regulate appetite and the sensation of fullness. The distinctive feature of Mounjaro, setting it apart from other well-known weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, is that it targets two hormones while the others focus on just one.
The Mounjaro investigation encompassed 800 overweight and obese individuals with weight-related health issues, excluding diabetes. Participants initially weighed around 241 pounds and had a body mass index of approximately 38.
Over 200 participants left the trial after three months of intensive diet and exercise for various reasons, including their inability to shed weight.
Concurrently, researchers randomly assigned the remaining 600 participants to either receive tirzepatide or a placebo through weekly injections over a span of approximately 16 months. Nearly 500 individuals successfully completed the study, as highlighted by the researchers.
"This study demonstrates that if you shed weight before starting the medication, you can achieve even greater weight loss afterward," explained Dr. Thomas Wadden, the lead researcher and an obesity specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, speaking to the Associated Press.
The results of this study were presented by Lilly during Obesity Week in Dallas and were simultaneously published in the journal Nature Medicine.
"Any way you look at it, it's a significant fraction of your total body weight," remarked Dr. Caroline Apovian, a specialist in obesity treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in her conversation with the AP.
Participants in both groups initially lost nearly 17 pounds through the initial phase, which excluded medication use, amounting to approximately 7% of their overall body weight.
Those who subsequently received Mounjaro experienced an additional weight loss of 18.4% of their body weight, equivalent to about 44 pounds. In contrast, the others regained approximately six pounds.
Approximately 88% of individuals taking the medication lost at least 5% of their body weight during the study, compared to only 17% of those on a placebo. Nearly 29% of those taking the medication lost a quarter or more of their body weight, in contrast to roughly 1% of those taking the placebo.
This level of success is similar to what's typically seen with bariatric surgery, according to Apovian. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, which tend to intensify as the dosage increases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly granted the drug a fast-track review for obesity treatment, as reported by the AP.
Even though Mounjaro received approval for diabetes treatment in May 2022, it has been employed "off-label" for addressing obesity.
Tirzepatide operates by targeting two hormones that regulate appetite and the sensation of fullness. The distinctive feature of Mounjaro, setting it apart from other well-known weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, is that it targets two hormones while the others focus on just one.
The Mounjaro investigation encompassed 800 overweight and obese individuals with weight-related health issues, excluding diabetes. Participants initially weighed around 241 pounds and had a body mass index of approximately 38.
Over 200 participants left the trial after three months of intensive diet and exercise for various reasons, including their inability to shed weight.
Concurrently, researchers randomly assigned the remaining 600 participants to either receive tirzepatide or a placebo through weekly injections over a span of approximately 16 months. Nearly 500 individuals successfully completed the study, as highlighted by the researchers.
"This study demonstrates that if you shed weight before starting the medication, you can achieve even greater weight loss afterward," explained Dr. Thomas Wadden, the lead researcher and an obesity specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, speaking to the Associated Press.
The results of this study were presented by Lilly during Obesity Week in Dallas and were simultaneously published in the journal Nature Medicine.
"Any way you look at it, it's a significant fraction of your total body weight," remarked Dr. Caroline Apovian, a specialist in obesity treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in her conversation with the AP.
Participants in both groups initially lost nearly 17 pounds through the initial phase, which excluded medication use, amounting to approximately 7% of their overall body weight.
Those who subsequently received Mounjaro experienced an additional weight loss of 18.4% of their body weight, equivalent to about 44 pounds. In contrast, the others regained approximately six pounds.
Approximately 88% of individuals taking the medication lost at least 5% of their body weight during the study, compared to only 17% of those on a placebo. Nearly 29% of those taking the medication lost a quarter or more of their body weight, in contrast to roughly 1% of those taking the placebo.
This level of success is similar to what's typically seen with bariatric surgery, according to Apovian. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, which tend to intensify as the dosage increases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly granted the drug a fast-track review for obesity treatment, as reported by the AP.