Mounjaro: Who Loses the Most Weight?

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Curious about who sheds the most pounds with Mounjaro? Let’s dig into the insights from the four SURPASS trials that examined how Mounjaro impacts weight loss. These trials have unveiled some intriguing findings, giving us a glimpse into who might see the most significant benefits from Mounjaro and who might not experience as much weight loss.

How effective is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is similar to another drug called semaglutide, found in Ozempic and Wegovy. Both Mounjaro and Zepbound, which are basically the same thing, activate certain receptors called GLP-1 receptors in your body to help with weight loss.

Recent studies suggest that Mounjaro and Zepbound might be a bit better at controlling blood sugar and promoting weight loss compared to Ozempic and Wegovy. But here’s the catch: these studies often show the best-case scenario, and weight loss meds might not work the same way for everyone.

Now, the big question is, who benefits the most from Mounjaro? A closer look at the four SURPASS trials gives us some clues.

The trials found that Mounjaro might be more effective for certain groups of people. When they say it’s more effective, they mean there’s a higher chance of at least a 15% weight loss in that specific group.

Who finds Mounjaro most effective?

Sex

One observation is that women seem to experience more significant weight loss compared to men when using Mounjaro. Now, this isn’t a groundbreaking revelation, but it adds an interesting layer to the discussion.

Studies on various weight loss medications and surgeries have hinted at similar trends in the past. While we can’t precisely pinpoint why this happens, experts believe it could be linked to how fat is distributed in women’s bodies. It’s also worth noting that women generally have more fat stores to begin with, giving them more to lose.

This insight doesn’t provide a definitive answer, but it adds a piece to the puzzle of understanding how these medications work.

Age

It turns out Mounjaro seems to be more effective in younger patients. Now, let’s break this down without getting too technical.

When we say “younger,” we’re referring to folks in their 40s and 50s, not the 20s or 30s crowd. It’s an important distinction because the studies mostly enrolled individuals in their 50s and 60s. So, if you fall into the 40s or 50s age bracket, this might catch your interest.

Conversely, if you’re in your 70s, the weight loss benefits might not be as pronounced. This aligns with broader patterns in weight loss trends. Typically, younger individuals tend to respond better to various weight loss methods, including medications, while those in their golden years often find success with dietary and lifestyle changes.

Understanding how age plays a role in the effectiveness of these medications can be crucial in managing expectations.

Race

It appears that Mounjaro tends to be more effective for individuals of White or Asian races, while African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives may experience lower odds of significant weight loss.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the majority of participants in these studies were White, with less than 25% representing non-white ethnicities. This means the study primarily zooms in on the outcomes for White patients, and the disparity might not accurately reflect how Mounjaro performs in the broader population.

If you’re of White or Asian descent, these findings might catch your attention. But it’s equally important to approach this information with a grain of caution, considering the study’s focus on a predominantly White group.

For a more comprehensive understanding of how Mounjaro and Zepbound might work for diverse individuals, further research with a broader participant base is needed.

Medication

Another factor that comes into play is the other medications patients might be taking.

In the case of Mounjaro, it was primarily tested in individuals dealing with diabetes. What caught the researchers’ eyes is that when patients combined Mounjaro with the anti-diabetic drug metformin, they experienced more significant weight loss. Now, this might not be a shocker, considering metformin itself is known to have some, albeit relatively mild, effects on weight loss.

If you’re on the journey to manage your weight, especially dealing with diabetes, this insight could be valuable. Combining Mounjaro with metformin seems to have an added weight-loss benefit, offering a potential boost in your efforts.

Health history

Researchers also found that individuals who kicked off their treatment in better health tended to experience more weight loss. It’s like having a head start on the weight loss journey. For those dealing with diabetes, starting with lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c values led to more substantial weight loss.

Those with healthier lipid profiles, including lower LDL and total cholesterol levels and higher HDL levels, tended to achieve better results with Mounjaro. On the flip side, folks who didn’t see as much weight loss often had poorly controlled diabetes and not-so-great lipid profiles at the beginning.

This points to the fact that individuals with diabetes or more severe metabolic issues might face greater challenges in shedding pounds due to underlying metabolic problems. Factors like reduced fat metabolism, inflammation, and a weaker response to satiety hormones can all contribute to a slower rate of weight loss for these individuals compared to those with better metabolic health.

And here’s an interesting nugget – your initial body weight doesn’t seem to play a significant role in how Mounjaro impacts weight loss. Whether you started heavier or lighter, it doesn’t drastically affect the percentage of body weight you ultimately lose.

Dr. Brian’s Take

Let’s sum it up – there are several factors that play a role in how much weight you can lose with Mounjaro.

If you’re on the younger side, especially if you’re a woman and of White or Asian background, you might see more significant weight loss results. Also, if you’re dealing with diabetes, combining Mounjaro with metformin seems to give you an extra weight loss boost.

Here’s a tip: If your blood sugar or lipid levels aren’t in check, getting them under control through a healthy diet and exercise before starting Mounjaro could enhance its weight loss effects. And if you’re using another anti-diabetic medication, chatting with your healthcare provider about switching to metformin might amp up the benefits of Mounjaro.

Of course, some factors, like your race, are beyond your control. Still, this info can help both doctors and patients know what to expect with Mounjaro and how to make the most of it.

Now, let’s talk about the study’s limitations. One key issue is that the studies were relatively short, lasting about 40 to 42 weeks – just under a year. It’s tricky to say if these differences in weight loss will stay as noticeable after a full year or two of taking the medication. They might become less prominent or even disappear by the end of the second year.

And here’s the thing – most folks in the studies were White, which doesn’t give us the best snapshot of the whole population. To truly understand how your race might affect Mounjaro’s effects, we need studies with a more diverse bunch of participants.

What about semaglutide?

Now, you might be wondering if the same factors that influence weight loss with Mounjaro apply here.

The truth is, there hasn’t been a dedicated analysis like the one for Mounjaro on semaglutide. However, a study examining real-world use of Wegovy, which is based on semaglutide, revealed some interesting trends:

1. Firstly, it confirmed that, similar to Mounjaro, women tend to lose more weight than men.
2. Secondly, it found that older age was associated with less weight loss, which aligns with what we’ve discussed before.
3. Thirdly, individuals with diabetes tended to lose less weight, echoing the findings from Mounjaro’s analysis.

Now, here’s a twist – the study showed that those taking metformin alongside semaglutide tended to lose less weight. But this actually aligns with what we’ve observed before: diabetics, who often take metformin, tend to lose less weight than healthier individuals not requiring metformin.

On the other hand, individuals using a different medication called linaclotide, in addition to semaglutide, showed improved weight loss outcomes. Linaclotide is commonly prescribed for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and chronic constipation.

It’s important to note that comparing these two studies isn’t perfect. The Mounjaro analysis focuses on controlled research trials, while the semaglutide study looks at real-world use.

However, because they work in a similar way and share some similarities, it’s reasonable to assume that some findings for Mounjaro may also hold true for Ozempic and Wegovy.

Here’s the reality check – achieving more than a 15% weight loss, as seen in some patients using Mounjaro or Wegovy, is typically observed in ideal scenarios with specific individuals. In the real world, most people, like you and me, using these medications probably won’t experience nearly as much weight loss.

Learn more about

• What Forms of Semaglutide are Available?
• What to Expect With Wegovy
• Comparing other GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss
• 5 Things To Know Before Starting Weight Loss Medication
• Other weight loss medications

See also

• 
  Comparing Weight Loss Drugs in 2024
  Ozempic and Mounjaro are highly effective at treating obesity, however there are many other approved and off-label options that also work.
• 
  Bupropion vs Contrave vs Naltrexone
  Contrave is a synergistic combination of buproprion and naltrexone, which can be replicated to some degree using the generics individually.
• 
  New Obesity Drugs in 2024
  New obesity drugs target more than just GLP-1 and do much more than suppress appetite for a more nuanced approach to weight loss.
• 
  Mounjaro: Who Loses the Most Weight?
  White or Asian younger women who use metformin and have lower sugar and lipid levels tend to experience more weight loss with Mounjaro.
• 
  How does Oforglipron compare?
  Orforglipron, Semaglutide, and Danuglipron are oral GLP-1 agonists that are all similar enough that cost may end up being the winning factor.