Tirzepatide and Semaglutide: Learn About These New Weapons in the Weight Loss Battle

Weight loss is truly a battle. Losing and regaining the same pounds over and over again can make you tired of waging war against those stubborn pounds. Hope is on the horizon with the newest weight-loss medications: tirzepatide and semaglutide. 

At New Horizons Wellness Center & MediSpa in Spring, Texas, we offer a range of services to help our patients improve their physical and emotional well-being. We understand the challenges of weight loss and offer personalized weight management services that may include weight-loss medications such as tirzepatide or semaglutide.

What are tirzepatide and semaglutide and how can they help you win the weight loss battle? Here, we want to tell you all about these cutting-edge weight-loss injections, how they work, and who might benefit.

About tirzepatide and semaglutide

Tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro®) and semaglutide (brand name Ozempic®) are prescription medications given by injection for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes to improve blood glucose control. 

Currently, only semaglutide is FDA-approved to treat obesity (brand name Wegovy®). However, tirzepatide is on the fast-track for approval for the treatment of obesity because results from recent studies show it may lead to more significant weight loss than other weight-loss injections. 

Both injections work in similar ways, but tirzepatide has dual-action activity that may help promote better weight loss results. 

How weight-loss injections work

Semaglutide and tirzepatide help people lose weight by suppressing their appetite, so they eat less. 

Here’s how they work:

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medications mimic the actions of GLP-1 hormone, a hormone your digestive tract releases when you eat.

GLP-1 triggers the production of insulin (helping lower blood glucose in people with diabetes) and activates the part of the brain that controls your appetite, giving you the signal that you're full.

Tirzepatide

Tizepatide is the first in its class of drugs. It’s a GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. GIP is a hormone made in your digestive tract that also stimulates the release of insulin (helping to control blood glucose in people with diabetes).

When given by injection, the increased levels of GIP slow the movement of food through the stomach, helping you feel full longer. 

By acting on the area of the brain that controls appetite, these medications also seem to decrease food cravings and the desire to eat.

Can weight-loss injections help me?

Semaglutide is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a BMI of 27 or higher with weight-related health problems like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. 

Tirepatide isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss yet, but clinical trials are showing significant promise. The makers of this weight-loss injection expect FDA approval by the end of 2023. 

Weight-loss injections work best when combined with a balanced eating plan and regular exercise. Though results vary, studies show that people can lose about 12% of their weight taking semaglutide and about 20% of their weight taking tirzepatide over 16 months. 

Weight loss is a battle, but with advances in treatment options, we can help you win the war. Call our office today, or book your weight management consultation online.