It is well recognized that obesity has ballooned into a world-wide health concern, creating life-threatening metabolic disorders that reduce longevity and lower quality of life for millions. Recently, the FDA approved semaglutide and tirzepatide, two incretin mimetic drugs originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, for long-term weight loss.
Learn the difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide, their distinct mechanisms of action, and whether you are a good candidate for either drug to help with weight loss.
Mechanisms of Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide were originally developed to help manage Type 2 diabetes, but because diabetes mellitus and obesity go hand-in-hand, it was soon discovered that patients being treated with the drugs were beginning to lose weight. It made sense to approve the drug for weight loss, since obesity is a precursor to diabetes and other metabolic disorders like hypertension, heart disease and chronic systemic inflammation.
Both drugs act by stimulating insulin secretion in states of hyperglycemia (high circulating blood sugar), and by suppressing glucagon – a peptide hormone secreted from the pancreas that stimulates glucose production. Both delay gastric emptying, suppress appetite and help to lower body weight.
So what is the difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide, and which is better for weight loss? It all comes down to their distinct mechanisms of action.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1RA). Put in plain English, GLP-1 is a hormone that stimulates insulin production in the pancreas. You can think of insulin as the key that opens the door to the body’s cells, allowing glucose to enter, to be used for energy production. People with Type 1 diabetes and some people in the advanced stages of Type 2 diabetes inject insulin directly to metabolize blood glucose. Semaglutide taps into the body’s own mechanisms to encourage insulin production and secretion.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide also has a GLP-1RA component, but the drug has dual action via a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide – a hormone that stimulates insulin release and regulates glucagon levels.
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors are found in abundance in fat cells. The hormone enhances the release of fatty lipids and increases the sensitivity of fat cells to insulin, potentially preventing the storage of fat in the visceral organs. Although research is ongoing, the dual action of tirzepatide is expected to have a greater effect on blood glucose levels and weight control than semaglutide.
Cost of Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: Which is a Better Value?
In addition to mechanisms of action, patients may want to consider the cost of weight loss injection therapy. One study tracked1300 patients to conduct a cost analysis comparing semaglutide and tirzepatide, based on cost per percent weight lost. Cost was calculated by multiplying the cost of each drug by the follow-up time of the study, and dividing it by the mean percentage of weight reduction, compared with a placebo.
At the 52-week marker, the study concluded that mean total weight loss for tirzepatide was 18.52% versus 12.95% for semaglutide, with a total cost per 1% of body weight lost over 52 weeks calculated at $683.49 for tirzepatide, compared with $1350.97 for semaglutide.
Who Is Eligible for Weight Loss Injection Therapy?
Before you make a decision based on cost alone, there are other factors to consider:
- To qualify for either drug, you must be obese, overweight, or have type 2 diabetes
- Tirzepatide may be a better choice for patients at risk for cardiovascular disease
- Tiraepatide may have unknown side effects for patients without type 2 diabetes
In addition, both drugs have potentially harmful side effects that should be taken into consideration.
Possible side effects for both drugs include:
- Thyroid tumors/cancer
- Vision changes
- Pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)
- Kidney failure
- Gallbladder dysfunction
- Allergic reactions
- Low blood sugar
If you experience any negative side effects during treatment, you should immediately report them to your doctor.
Lifestyle also Plays a Role
Weight loss drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide are intended to be used in conjunction with regular exercise and healthy nutrition. Negative lifestyle behaviors and poor diet can undermine the effectiveness of weight loss injections. Prior to beginning weight loss injection therapy, it is recommended to modify your lifestyle and adopt a sustainable exercise program to help achieve your expected results.
Follow these tips for healthier lifestyle choices:
- Exercise consistently 5-7 days a week. Walking is a low-cost form of exercise that is easy to adopt. Shoot for 30-60 minutes daily, either in a single session or broken into smaller time increments. Adding resistance training will accelerate your weight loss and tone up lax muscles.
- Drink plenty of plain water. Opt for spring water over tap water, either flat or sparkling. Avoid sodas, juice, diet beverages and alcoholic beverages.
- Eliminate grains, especially wheat, from your diet, or dramatically reduce consumption.
- Stay away from snack foods, processed foods, fast foods, and any food that does not resemble meat or produce in its natural form. Opt for fresh unprocessed fruits and vegetables, and grass fed, pasture raised and wild caught animal products.
- Optimize sleep by going to bed at the same time each night, avoiding screens before bed, and making your bedroom as dark as possible. Shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Adopt these lifestyle changes with a long-term mindset. The reason most diets don’t work is because once goals are reached, people go back to the behaviors that caused them to gain weight in the first place. Maintaining your weight loss results depends on your commitment to a life-long healthy lifestyle.
Get Safe and Effective Weight Loss Injections in NYC
If you have type 2 diabetes and are struggling to lose weight, weight loss injection therapy can help. At Invita Wellness, we make it easy to get your prescribed weekly injections of semaglutide or tirzepatide without a trip to your doctor’s office. Our convenient Midtown Manhattan clinic offers a spa-like environment geared to wellness and a healthy lifestyle, reinforcing your commitment to achieving your weight loss goals.
To learn more about our weight loss services or to set an appointment, contact Invita Wellness today!
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Resources
Azuri, Joseph, et al. “Tirzepatide versus semaglutide for weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A value for money analysis.” Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 25.4 (2023): 961-964.
https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dom.14940
Frías, Juan P., et al. “Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes.” New England Journal of Medicine 385.6 (2021): 503-515.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2107519
