According to groundbreaking long-term data presented at the European Obesity Conference this week, some participants weighed nearly one-third and retained it with Tirzepatide for three years.
While most weight loss methods have seen results fade over time, the researchers found that weekly injections of tirzepatide (sold as Zepbough in the United States and sold in the European Union) can lead to continuous weight loss in overweight patients who are obese or without diabetes.
“Our long-term analysis of Tirzepatide determined that at the beginning of the study film, regardless of age, BMI and BMI age, BMI and obesity, clinically associated weight loss for up to 3 years, not diabetes, not diabetes.”
These findings extend early results from the SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial, which initially reported 15-21% weight loss after 72 weeks. The latest analysis tracked 700 participants for a full three years, revealing three different weight loss patterns.
The most responsive group – mainly women, without obesity-related medical complications – lost about 30% of their initial weight. The second group lost about 20% of weight, while the third group lost about 10%.
Dr. Busetto explained: “On average, adults in Group 1 were 10% lower than their body weight after 3 years. Although the participants in Group 3 (the highest proportion of women and the highest proportion of patients with obesity without medical conditions, the decline was another 20%, so their overall average weight loss was about 31%.
These results are in stark contrast to traditional weight loss methods, which often produce short-lived results. Even moderate weight loss can produce significant health benefits – reducing weight by only 5% lowers the risk of diabetes and improves blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The Tirzepatide function is to regulate insulin production by mimicking two hormones that are naturally produced after eating (GLP-1 and GIP), slow gastric emptying, and full signal to the brain. The drug was approved by FDA in November 2023 and European in June 2024 for weight management in adults who suffer from at least one weight-related obesity or overweight.
Despite impressive results, the researchers noted that everyone ended up reaching the weight loss plateau. “No matter which weight loss intervention they use, everyone reached the plateau of weight loss at some point,” explains Dr. Busetto. “GLP-1 and GIP are just two of the eight hormones that control hunger and weight, and eventually, the other hormones send changes to the body’s protective mechanisms to make changes to prevent weight loss.”
The time varies greatly between the times of this platform. Most participants in the lowest and moderate weight loss group were stable around 24 weeks, while those with the highest response rates continued to lose weight for 36-48 weeks and then stabilized.
Dr. Busetto stressed that “losing 15% of your weight is the best place for people to gain most health benefits.” He added that the findings could help doctors develop more personalized treatments.
Like other drugs in their class, Tirzepatide often causes gastrointestinal side effects. The most common in the trial were nausea, diarrhea and constipation, and no new safety issues were found during the extended follow-up period.
As obesity rates continue to climb globally, these results offer promise for long-term management, namely, many WHO now consider a chronic disease that requires ongoing treatment.
“These findings can provide deeper insight into the efficacy of Tirzepatide in different demographic and medical histories, making it possible to develop more personalized treatment plans and goals,” concluded Dr. Busetto.
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