Browse the evidence

Unimolecular polypharmacology using dual (GLP-1R/GIPR or GLP-1R/GCGR) or triple (GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR) agonists produces superior weight loss and glycemic control compared to single-agonist GLP-1 receptor agonists.

If you have obesity or type 2 diabetes, newer medications that target multiple hormones (GLP-1, GIP, and Glucagon receptors) like tirzepatide or retatrutide are significantly more effective for weight loss and blood sugar control than older single-target drugs like semaglutide. These are taken as once-weekly injections. While they can cause stomach issues, they are generally well-tolerated and offer superior results. Consult a doctor to see if you qualify for these treatments.

Triple agonists (GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR) such as retatrutide achieve greater weight loss than dual agonists by combining satiety signals with increased energy expenditure.

For severe obesity, the newest class of drugs (triple agonists like retatrutide) targets three hormones to maximize weight loss, achieving up to 24% body weight reduction in clinical trials. This is higher than dual-agonist drugs. These are weekly injections. They are currently in clinical development/trials for broader approval. Discuss with your doctor if you are a candidate for these advanced therapies.

Semaglutide promotes significant weight loss in individuals with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes.

If you have obesity, ask your doctor about semaglutide. It is a once-weekly injection that has been proven to produce significant weight loss, often exceeding 15% of body weight, when combined with lifestyle changes.

Tirzepatide treatment significantly improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across physical, mental, and psychosocial domains in adults with obesity or overweight, with improvements generally scaling with the magnitude of weight loss.

If you have obesity or overweight and have struggled to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone, adding tirzepatide (after achieving initial loss via diet/exercise) can significantly boost your quality of life. This isn't just about weight; it's about better physical function, less pain, and improved mental health. The more weight you lose, the more your quality of life improves, especially if you had physical limitations before starting.

Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist administered once weekly, significantly reduces body weight and improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to placebo and other active comparators.

If you have type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection that can significantly lower your blood sugar and help you lose weight. It works by mimicking hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite. While it can cause stomach issues like nausea, these often improve over time. It is more effective than some other common diabetes medications in lowering blood sugar and reducing weight.

Unimolecular GIPR:GLP-1R coagonists (e.g., tirzepatide) achieve superior body weight loss compared to GLP-1R monoagonists (e.g., semaglutide) in both diabetic and non-diabetic obese populations, with efficacy scaling with dose without compromising tolerability.

If you are treating obesity with medication, combining GIP and GLP-1 receptor activation (like tirzepatide) yields significantly more weight loss than activating only the GLP-1 receptor (like semaglutide). This combination does not increase the side effects that typically limit treatment, allowing for higher effective doses.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly significantly reduces major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in individuals with obesity and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), regardless of diabetes status.

If you have obesity and established heart disease, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly is a preferred first-line treatment to significantly reduce your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death, even if you do not have diabetes. This should be combined with lifestyle therapy.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly is the preferred first-line anti-obesity medication for individuals with obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD), including non-diabetic populations, due to significant reductions in renal endpoint progression.

If you have obesity and chronic kidney disease, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly is the preferred first-line treatment to significantly slow kidney function decline and reduce the risk of needing dialysis or kidney replacement therapy, even if you do not have diabetes.

Tirzepatide 15 mg once weekly is preferred for individuals with obesity and prediabetes when greater weight loss is needed, achieving a 94% risk reduction in diabetes progression over 72 weeks.

If you have obesity and prediabetes, tirzepatide 15 mg once weekly is a preferred treatment to significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and achieve substantial weight loss, especially if lifestyle changes alone are not enough.

Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., tirzepatide) and triple agonists (e.g., retatrutide) produce significantly greater reductions in body weight and HbA1c compared to selective GLP-1 receptor agonists or placebo in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

For individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes, dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists like tirzepatide offer superior weight loss and blood sugar control compared to older GLP-1-only drugs. Treatment typically starts at a low dose (2.5 mg weekly) and increases gradually to 5, 10, or 15 mg to manage side effects. Clinical trials show up to 20% body weight reduction in non-diabetic obese adults over two years.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide) and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists (tirzepatide) produce clinically significant weight loss (10-21%) and reduce obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic complications.

If you have obesity, newer GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medications (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) are highly effective, often producing 15-20% weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes. These drugs also significantly improve cardiovascular risk factors. Discuss these options with your doctor, especially if you have a BMI over 30 (or 27 with health issues).

Tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, produces greater weight loss (up to 21%) and superior body composition changes compared to other anti-obesity medications.

Tirzepatide is currently one of the most effective weight-loss drugs available, capable of producing ~20% weight loss. It also improves blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid profiles. It requires weekly injections and lifestyle changes.

Tirzepatide (15mg weekly) achieves 20.9% weight loss, with 50-57% of users losing >= 20% body weight, rivaling bariatric surgery.

Tirzepatide 15mg weekly can lead to ~21% weight loss. Over half of users lose 20% or more. This is a powerful option for those with comorbidities.

Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg produces significantly greater weight loss in adults without type 2 diabetes (mean -11.57%) compared to those with type 2 diabetes (mean -6.34%).

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, expect semaglutide 2.4 mg to work, but anticipate roughly half the weight loss percentage compared to someone without diabetes. This is due to metabolic factors like insulin resistance and 'glycemic buffering' (where improved blood sugar control reduces calorie loss through urine). Manage expectations by focusing on metabolic health benefits alongside weight metrics, as the drug remains clinically effective for both groups.

GLP-1-based peptide therapeutics achieve 15–25% body weight loss with once-weekly dosing, surpassing the efficacy of previous small-molecule drugs and matching bariatric surgery outcomes.

GLP-1 therapies like semaglutide and tirzepatide offer a powerful medical option for obesity, achieving 15-25% weight loss with once-weekly injections. This efficacy rivals bariatric surgery but without the surgical risks. However, these drugs require ongoing use to maintain results, and access can be limited by cost and supply. Consult a healthcare provider to determine if this treatment is appropriate for your specific health profile.

Dual and poly-agonists (e.g., Tirzepatide) targeting multiple receptors (GLP-1R, GIPR) provide superior weight loss compared to single-agonist GLP-1 therapies.

Dual-agonist drugs like Tirzepatide target both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, offering greater weight loss (up to 21%) than single-agonist GLP-1 drugs. This approach leverages multiple hormonal pathways for enhanced efficacy. It is a once-weekly injection suitable for those who need more potent weight loss support.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide) and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists (tirzepatide) produce significant weight loss (15-23%) and should be considered for patients with higher weight-loss goals or specific comorbidities like MASH or severe OSA.

If you have obesity and related health issues like sleep apnea or fatty liver, your doctor might recommend injectable medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide. These can lead to significant weight loss (15-23%) when combined with lifestyle changes. Discuss the pros and cons of injectable vs. oral options with your provider.

Discontinuation of obesity medications leads to weight regain and reversal of cardiometabolic improvements, necessitating long-term treatment.

If you are taking obesity medications, you likely need to continue them long-term to maintain weight loss. Stopping the medication often leads to weight regain. Talk to your doctor about managing costs and side effects to stay on treatment.

Exogenous GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) induce significant weight loss (up to 25% of body weight) and improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes by mimicking the endogenous 'ileal brake' mechanism, primarily through central nervous system appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are highly effective treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, capable of producing weight loss comparable to bariatric surgery. They work by leveraging the body's own hormonal pathways (specifically GLP-1) to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar control. While natural GLP-1 is short-lived and ineffective as a therapy, stabilized analogs overcome this. Patients should expect potential initial gastrointestinal side effects, which are managed by starting with low doses and increasing slowly.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly produces a sustained, slowly decaying weight loss effect in adults with obesity, with an estimated 14.9% reduction in body weight over 68 weeks compared to placebo.

Take 2.4 mg of semaglutide once weekly as part of a lifestyle intervention. Expect significant weight loss (around 15% over 68 weeks) compared to placebo. Adherence is key, as discontinuation reduces effectiveness.

Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg significantly improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) utility scores compared to placebo in patients with obesity or overweight with comorbidities, with effects driven by both improvements in the treatment group and declines in the placebo group.

If you have obesity or overweight with related health issues, taking semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week along with lifestyle changes can significantly improve how you feel about your health compared to doing nothing. This improvement is seen in both those who take the drug and those who don't, as the drug helps maintain health while the placebo group's health utility tends to drop. The benefits include better physical functioning and overall quality of life.

Semaglutide (2.4 mg) and Tirzepatide (15 mg) produce significantly greater weight loss (14.9% and 20.9% respectively) in non-diabetic obesity compared to current approved drugs, though they are associated with frequent gastrointestinal adverse events.

If you have obesity without diabetes, newer injectable medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide are currently the most effective pharmacological options, capable of reducing body weight by 15-21%. However, you must be prepared for gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea, which are common but often manageable with gradual dose increases.

Pharmacotherapy using GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide) or dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists (tirzepatide) produces significant weight loss (10-20%) and improves obesity-related comorbidities, serving as a necessary adjunct to lifestyle intervention for patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2 with complications.

If you have a BMI over 30 (or over 27 with health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes), lifestyle changes alone often aren't enough because your body fights weight loss. Medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide, taken once weekly, can help you lose 10-20% of your body weight and improve your health conditions. These are long-term treatments; stopping them usually leads to regaining the weight. If cost is a barrier, ask your doctor about starting at a lower dose, which may still be effective.

Discontinuation of obesity pharmacotherapy leads to significant weight regain and recurrence of metabolic benefits loss, necessitating lifelong treatment or intensive lifestyle support.

Obesity is a chronic condition, much like high blood pressure. If you stop your medication, you will likely regain the weight and your health markers (like blood sugar and blood pressure) may worsen. Most people need to stay on treatment long-term to maintain their health benefits. If you want to stop, discuss a plan with your doctor, as weight regain is very common.