The so-called ‘King Kong’ of weight-loss jabs, Mounjaro, has beaten its rival Ozempic in new research which pitted the two against each other.
In a study of more than 18,000 people, researchers found that those taking tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, were 224% more likely to have shed around a sixth of their body weight in comparison to people on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic.
Both drugs work by copying a hormone which makes people feel full.
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Another key finding was that those taking Mounjaro lost more weight on average than those on semaglutide – up to 7% more.
The study only included people with type 2 diabetes, with its authors saying: “In this large, propensity-matched, cohort study, individuals with overweight or obesity treated with tirzepatide were significantly more likely to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss and larger reductions in body weight compared with those treated with semaglutide.”
In terms of side effects, which include sickness and diarrhoea, researchers said there was no significant difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide.
The data was taken from two groups of patients taking either Mounjaro or Ozempic for up to a year.
Both groups had similar average starting weights – about 17st 4lbs for those on Mounjaro and around 17st 1lb for patients taking Ozempic.
The research team examined the likelihood of each group meeting specific weight loss targets, along with the amount of weight lost at certain points of the study.
In terms of weight loss goals, the results were:
- Proportion of patients who lost at least 5% of their total weight: Mounjaro group: 82%; Ozempic: 66%
- Proportion of patients who lost 10% of their total weight: Mounjaro: 60%; Ozempic: 40%
- Proportion of patients who lost 15% of their total weight: Mounjaro: 42%; Ozempic: 18%
Looking at the average weight loss over the course of the study, Mounjaro came out top again.
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At the three-month, six-month and one-year marks, people on Mounjaro lost, on average, 2.4%, 4.3% and 6.9% respectively, more weight compared to those on Ozempic.
Researchers said a similar study comparing the two drugs is underway, this time looking at their effectiveness for people with obesity only.
While other studies have linked the use of weight-loss medication to protective benefits against heart disease, stroke and some cancers, there have been reports of a range of side effects including constipation, fatigue, stomach pain, headaches and dizziness.
