Study compares three major weight loss drugs and finds surprising differences between them
A groundbreaking study has compared the three top weight loss medications on the market, which has produced some surprising results.
When it comes to shifting those stubborn few pounds, we know diet and exercise are the best things for us.
However, millions have turned to medications to help them manage a healthy weight, with approximately one in eight US adults taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, which were initially developed to treat diabetes.
GLP-1 drugs, which relate to GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking a natural hormone which makes users feel fuller for longer and reduces their need to eat, thereby leading to weight loss.
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Their purpose is to treat people with Type-2 diabetes, and Ozempic is not approved by the FDA for weight loss - though this hasn't stopped people (including celebrities) from using it.
While there are dozens of so-called 'fat jabs' out there, a new study has set about answering which one is king of the top three blockbuster jabs.
Scientists compared tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, to semaglutide (in Wegovy and Ozempic) and liraglutide, in Saxenda, as part of a commission by the World Health Organization (WHO) to shape guidelines on how to use the jabs to treat obesity.
The results, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found all three jabs enabled users to lose a significant amount of weight compared to placebo alternatives.
Mounjaro
However, when it came to the best, the scientists determined tirzepatide came out on top for helping patients shift the most weight - and crucially keep it off longer than other GLP-1 medications.
The team discovered patients on Mounjaro lost a whopping 16 percent of their body weight in 12 to 18 months, and were able to maintain their new physique the longest, up to 3.5 years.
Semaglutide
Meanwhile, the study found patients injecting semaglutide shed 11 percent of their weight in a shorter space of time, between three to 16 months.
Users were also able to keep the weight off for up to two years.
However, Ozempic and Wegovy patients might experience more narly side effects, like vomiting, feeling nauseous and constipation, compared to the others.
Saxenda
Finally, the reviews found people using liraglutide lost a modest amount of around five percent of their overall body weight, which was still more than the dummy drugs but a far cry less than its competitors.
That said, the researchers found Saxenda patients were similarly able to maintain their weight for up to two years.
Cardiovascular complications
The review also found very little difference between the three drugs and placebos when measuring possible cardiovascular risks, quality of life or mortality.
Despite this, medics say more research into a possible link needs to be assessed.
Eva Madrid, from the Universidad de Valparaíso, said: “We need more data on the long-term effects related to cardiovascular health. Weight regain after stopping treatment may affect the long-term sustainability of the observed benefits.
“More independent studies from a public health perspective are needed.”
'Exciting moment'
The Cochrane reviews will go towards shaping new WHO guidelines on GLP-1s, set to drop after a public consultation in September.
Juan Franco, co-lead researcher from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, also said the study makes for an 'exciting moment.'
"These drugs have the potential to bring about substantial weight loss, particularly in the first year," he said. “It’s an exciting moment after decades of unsuccessful attempts to find effective treatments for people living with obesity."
LADBible Group has contacted Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily for comment.
Topics: Weight loss, Ozempic, Mounjaro, World News, Health, Fitness
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