London, England – A trial study suggests that the drug Mounjaro, also known as the “King Kong” of weight loss drugs, may help individuals sustain weight loss over a three-year period. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and is administered through once-a-week injections, working by mimicking the hormones GLP-1 and GIP to suppress appetite and increase insulin production and sensitivity. This medication is available for weight loss purposes through the NHS and can also be obtained privately with a prescription.
New data analyses from a three-year trial called Surmount-1, conducted by scientists at Eli Lilly and academic researchers, shed light on the longer-term effects of Mounjaro. The analyses examined the trajectories of weight loss and rebound after initial reductions in weight. Results from the study are set to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga.
The study analyzed data from about 700 participants who were given tirzepatide in various dose regimens over a 176-week period. Participants in the trial had either obesity or were overweight with pre-diabetes. The findings revealed that participants experienced three main patterns of weight loss – steady, moderate, or rapid weight loss followed by a plateau. On average, weight reductions for these groups were 9.2%, 20.2%, and 30.8% respectively.
Researchers noted that the majority of participants maintained clinically significant weight loss throughout the study. The study also found that on average, participants reached their lowest weight after 22 months, losing 23.1% of their initial weight. Despite some participants regaining weight during the study, the average weight loss at the end of the trial was 19.4% from the starting weight.
Professors involved in the research emphasized the importance of understanding different weight loss trajectories to predict long-term outcomes. According to experts not involved in the trial, these findings could pave the way for new therapies for individuals struggling with weight loss. The study’s results come at a time when regulatory bodies are cracking down on the advertisement of prescription-only weight loss medications to the public through various platforms like social media and influencer collaborations.