Compare the Weight Reduction Effect between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on July 21st, 2025
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Semaglutide and tirzepatide are novel treatments for diabetes, but due to their clinical benefit, have become popular options in many Western countries. Both of these medications had been associated with significant beneficial metabolic improvement such as weight reduction. A study funded by Eli Lilly recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine had compared the weight management effect between semaglutide and tirzepatide.
The phase 3 clinical study included 751 participants with an average baseline body mass index of 39.4 and a waist circumference of 118.3 cm. About half of the participants experienced at least one obesity-related complication such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease. The participants were randomly assigned to be treated with either semaglutide or tirzepatide. Both treatments were delivered subcutaneously, once a week at a dose between 1.7-to-2.4 mg for semaglutide and 10-to-15 mg for tirzepatide.
After 72 weeks of treatment, the researchers found that tirzepatide was associated with a 20% reduction in body weight, significantly more than the 13.7% reduction in the semaglutide group. Similar reductions were observed in waist circumference. Both treatments have similar adverse event profile and frequency. The researchers noted that the superior effect of tirzepatide can be explained because semaglutide only acts as glucagon receptor agonist; whereas, tirzepatide also mimics the action of insulinotropic polypeptide.
The phase 3 clinical study included 751 participants with an average baseline body mass index of 39.4 and a waist circumference of 118.3 cm. About half of the participants experienced at least one obesity-related complication such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease. The participants were randomly assigned to be treated with either semaglutide or tirzepatide. Both treatments were delivered subcutaneously, once a week at a dose between 1.7-to-2.4 mg for semaglutide and 10-to-15 mg for tirzepatide.
After 72 weeks of treatment, the researchers found that tirzepatide was associated with a 20% reduction in body weight, significantly more than the 13.7% reduction in the semaglutide group. Similar reductions were observed in waist circumference. Both treatments have similar adverse event profile and frequency. The researchers noted that the superior effect of tirzepatide can be explained because semaglutide only acts as glucagon receptor agonist; whereas, tirzepatide also mimics the action of insulinotropic polypeptide.