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How do Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and similar weight loss drugs work?

Think of it as constantly putting you in a post-meal state, where you feel full and aren't hungry, so you don't feel the urge to eat. This happens through several different mechanisms, some of which are not fully understood. These include the following hormones:

Ghrelin: The drugs regulate the hormone ghrelin, which is produced in the stomach and is basically the hunger hormone that signals to your brain that you need food.
Leptin: This hormone is the opposite of ghrelin. It is produced in your fat cells and tells your brain that you're full and don't need any food.
Insulin: A person's insulin level is also regulated by the medication and slows down the working of your stomach, called gut motility, so you feel full longer.

All these factors work together, and there is direct stimulation of the brain telling you that you don't have cravings and feel full — just like after a big meal.

What is Semaglutide, Tirzepatide?

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone, released in the gut in response to eating.

Semaglutide, Tirzepatide injections for weight loss

But GLP-1 in higher amounts also interacts with the parts of the brain that suppress your appetite and signal you to feel full. When used in conjunction with diet and exercise, it can cause significant weight loss — and a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease — in people who are obese or overweight.

How effective is Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for weight loss in non-diabetics?

There have been several anti-obesity medications that help suppress appetite and achieve weight loss. But Semaglutide performs on a new level.

An early study of 2,000 obese adults compared people using Semaglutide/ Tirzepatide, plus a diet and exercise program with people who made the same lifestyle changes without Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, half of the participants using Semaglutide/Tirzepatide lost 15% of their body weight, and nearly a third lost 20%. Participants who incorporated only lifestyle changes lost about 2.4% of their weight.

Since then, additional studies have shown similar results. But they’ve also revealed that participants tend to regain the weight lost when they stop taking Semaglutide/Tirzepatide.

What are the side effects of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide injections?

The side effects of Semaglutide/Tirzepatide are typically mild — especially when compared to the complications associated with overweight and obesity.

People taking Semaglutide/Tirzepatide for weight loss may experience:

Dizziness
Fatigue
Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, and gassiness
Headache
Stomach issues, including nausea, vomiting, pain, or distension (bloat)

Gastrointestinal issues are the most common complaint among people just starting Semaglutide/Tirzepatide. But you may be able to reduce the side effects by beginning with a lower dose and then slowly increasing the amount you take.

Avoid Semaglutide/Tirzepatide if you have:
History of medullary thyroid cancer
History of gallbladder disease
History of pancreatitis
Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

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Dr. Mrudangi Thakur

Medical Director

Dr. Thakur is currently affiliated with: