Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment: Results of the Large SURMOUNT-1 Study
In 2022, the respected medical journal New England Journal of Medicine
published the results of the large-scale SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial, which evaluated the effectiveness
of tirzepatide for weight loss in people with obesity and excess body weight.
Tirzepatide for weight loss is a modern medication that targets both GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
This combined mechanism helps better control appetite, maintain a feeling of fullness for longer,
and promote more effective weight reduction.
The study included 2,539 adults with a body mass index (BMI) over 30,
or over 27 with weight-related health complications.
At the same time, participants did not have diabetes.
How the Study Was Conducted
Participants were randomly divided into several groups. They received tirzepatide in doses of
5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg once a week as a subcutaneous injection, or a placebo.
The total duration of the study was 72 weeks.
In addition to the medication, participants were advised to follow a moderate calorie deficit
and engage in regular physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week.
Weight Loss Results
The SURMOUNT-1 results became some of the strongest ever reported among modern weight loss medications.
- 5 mg of tirzepatide: average body weight reduction — 15%
- 10 mg: average weight loss — 19.5%
- 15 mg: average weight loss — 20.9%
- Placebo: only 3.1%
In the Mounjaro 10 mg and 15 mg groups, more than half of the participants managed to lose over 20% of their initial body weight.
For medical obesity treatment, this is considered a very high result.
A significant number of participants achieved even more impressive outcomes:
- up to 36% of people lost more than 25% of their body weight;
- up to 91% of participants lost more than 5% of their weight;
- most patients reported a stable reduction in appetite.
Additional Positive Effects
In addition to weight loss, tirzepatide also positively affected other health markers:
- reduced waist circumference;
- improved blood sugar and insulin levels;
- lower blood pressure;
- improved cholesterol levels;
- reduced body fat mass;
- participants reported improved physical well-being.
Among people with prediabetes, more than 95% of participants returned
to normal glucose levels by the end of the study.
Side Effects
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal symptoms:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- constipation;
- abdominal discomfort.
In most cases, these symptoms were mild to moderate and occurred mainly
during gradual dose escalation.
The rate of serious side effects remained low, and the overall safety profile of tirzepatide
was similar to other modern GLP-1 medications.
Study Conclusions
SURMOUNT-1 demonstrated that tirzepatide can provide significant and long-term weight reduction
in people with obesity even without diabetes. In terms of effectiveness, the results partially
approach some bariatric surgery methods.
That is why tirzepatide is now considered one of the most promising medications
for weight management and obesity treatment.
Source: SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial, New England Journal of Medicine, 2022.