Tirzepatide for Weight Loss: Pros and Cons
Approximately 70% of American adults are obese or overweight. These serious health disorders are associated with some of the leading causes of death, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. When cutting calories and increasing physical activity are not enough, many individuals turn to FDA-approved medications such as Tirzepatide for chronic weight management.
Currently, this innovative GLP-1 medication brings new hope to the weight loss world thanks to its impressive results. With a 20% average weight loss over 72 weeks, Tirzepatide takes the lead for the strongest weight loss results in comparison to other weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.*
Compared to these competitor drugs, Tirzepatide works to target multiple receptors in the body that regulate glucose and appetite. As a result, it helps control blood sugar levels and reduce hunger. In contrast, Ozempic and Wegovy mainly act on a single receptor and control blood sugar.
Are you thinking about trying weight loss medication? Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of Tirzepatide so you can decide if this injectable is right for you.
What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a popular injectable peptide that was made to help people manage diabetes. Currently, the medication has FDA approval to help overweight or obese individuals with chronic weight reduction and management. The drug works to help control blood sugar levels and reduce hunger. The medication is frequently sold under the brand name Mounjaro for individuals with diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss.
How Does Tirzepatide Work for Weight Loss?
Tirzepatide is an injectable medication that works to aid in weight loss. It acts by targeting specific receptors in our body that regulate the release of certain hormones involved in appetite control and blood sugar regulation. These two receptors are GLP-1 and GIP. When you inject Tirzepatide, it imitates the actions of these hormones. The medication sends signals to your brain to decrease your appetite and cravings and increase your feelings of fullness after meals.
As a result, Tirzepatide helps you eat less and feel fuller with smaller portions of food. This enables you to achieve a calorie deficit and lose weight gradually over time. Additionally, Tirzepatide also lowers blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial if you have type 2 Diabetes or struggle with high blood sugar levels.
Tirzepatide is administered by injection under the skin once weekly. The dosage is increased over four to 20 weeks to achieve the target doses of 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, or 15 mg once weekly. The maximum dosage of Tirzepatide is 15 mg once weekly.
It’s important to note that Tirzepatide is meant to be used alongside a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise. These lifestyle changes complement the effects of the medication and further enhance weight loss results. Additionally, it’s crucial to follow the dosage instructions from a healthcare professional to ensure the medication’s effectiveness and safety.
What are the Pros of Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide has many pros if you want to lose weight and adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. A considerable benefit of this injectable medication is that it aids in weight loss by reducing the appetite and promoting a feeling of fullness. It also improves cardiovascular health and blood sugar levels.
Additionally, Tirzepatide has fewer injections compared to other injectable medications available. You take Tirzepatide once a week. This makes it a convenient option if you do not wish to take daily injections. Moreover, it has flexible usage as it can be taken on its own or in combination with other medications.
Promotes Weight Management
A huge benefit of this injectable medication is that it aids in weight loss by reducing the appetite and promoting a feeling of fullness. Tirzepatide affects the brain’s appetite control centers, which helps control hunger and prevents overeating. It also speeds up the metabolism and reduces stubborn cravings, so it is easier to lose weight.
Improves Blood Sugar Control
Another pro of Tirzepatide is that it helps improve blood sugar control. It works to target specific receptors in the body that regulate blood sugar levels. When taken regularly, Tirzepatide helps the body produce more insulin and release less glucose from the liver, which helps lower blood sugar levels.
Improves Health Conditions
Tirzepatide also helps with obesity health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It has the ability to reduce blood pressure and decrease the risk of heart-related complications.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Tirzepatide effectively lowers cholesterol levels. Specifically, the drug lowers LDL cholesterol, or the “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol may narrow blood vessels over time and elevate the risk of heart disease. Tirzepatide decreases the production of this bad cholesterol in the liver and increases its removal from the blood.
Potential for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
When you take Tirzepatide correctly and are at risk of Type 2 Diabetes, you help prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. The medication helps your pancreas release insulin in response to high blood sugar levels. This promotes the absorption of glucose by your body’s cells and maintains normal blood sugar levels. Tirzepatide also helps reduce the amount of glucose that your liver produces, which is another contributing factor to high blood sugar levels in Type 2 Diabetes.
Tirzepatide is a promising option for successfully losing weight and enhancing the quality of your life.
What are the Cons of Tirzepatide?
While Tirzepatide is a fantastic solution for many individuals, there are a few reasons why you might not want to take the medication. You might have concerns about possible side effects. Common side effects during clinical trials include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and injection site reactions. These symptoms could make you feel discomfort or sickness, which may deter you from using the medication.
Additional cons of Tirzepatide include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Upper abdominal discomfort
- Stomach pain
- Headaches
- Increases your risk of developing infections
- Increases your risk of low blood sugar levels
- Dizziness
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Burping
- Hair loss
- Injection site reactions, including redness, itching, or swelling
- Increases your risk of developing pancreatitis
Additionally, greasy, fried, and fatty foods increase your risk of developing these side effects while taking Tirzepatide. Foods that are high in saturated fats and sugars put extra strain on your digestive system. Therefore, avoid or reduce these foods and opt for a healthy, balanced diet to minimize the possibility of these undesirable side effects. This can be a con if you are someone who enjoys a diet that includes greasy, fried, or fattening foods.
It is important to note that individual experiences may vary, and not everyone experiences these disadvantages. You can entirely avoid most of these side effects by following a healthy diet while taking these powerful weight loss shots.
Tirzepatide Weight Loss Results
Tirzepatide is still being researched and developed, but early clinical trials show promising results in terms of weight reduction.
Studies show that you can lose over 50 lbs. with Tirzepatide. Based on a 72-week trial, patients given a 15 mg dose of Tirzepatide lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight (or about 52 pounds). By comparison, similar weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda reduce body weight by 15% (Wegovy) and 5% (Saxenda).
The amount of weight loss varies for each individual. Therefore, we recommend you talk with your healthcare provider.*
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide for Weight Loss
Tirzepatide is a more effective weight loss drug in comparison to Semaglutide for several reasons. Firstly, Tirzepatide works to target multiple receptors in the body that regulate glucose and appetite. As a result, it helps control blood sugar levels and reduce hunger. In contrast, Semaglutide mainly acts on a single receptor and controls blood sugar.
Additionally, Tirzepatide promotes more significant weight loss when compared to Semaglutide in clinical trials. Research studies show that people who take Tirzepatide experience more substantial reductions in body weight and body mass index (BMI) than those who take Semaglutide (Wegovy).
Body Morph MD is proud to offer BOTH Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for weight loss!
Cost of Tirzepatide in New York
A huge perk of Tirzepatide is it costs 20% less than Semaglutide.* That being said, cost varies per patient in NYC. At your free consultation with Body Morph MD, we discuss the cost of Tirzepatide in detail. If this weight loss injectable is right for you, we will go forward with your treatment plan and tailor it to your health history, goals, and budget.
Lose Weight with Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a fantastic option if you are ready to reach your weight loss goals and achieve your dream body. Learn more about how this cutting-edge weight loss injectable can help you combat cravings and look and feel your very best by reaching out to Body Morph MD. Residents of Harrison and Yonkers who look for help with chronic weight management can slim down and achieve long-term results with Tirzepatide at our well-known facilities in New York.
Body Morph MD is also proud to provide Tirzepatide in Naples at our Florida med spa!
Are you a good candidate for Tirzepatide weight loss injections? Give us a call at (914) 391-1274 to schedule a complimentary consultation, or reach out to us online to find out more.
We look forward to welcoming you to Body Morph and providing you with a custom plan to help you accomplish your weight loss goals.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
By submitting this form you agree to be contacted via phone/text/email.
SOURCES:
1. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-tirzepatide-delivered-225-weight-loss-adults-obesity-or
2. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=d2d7da5d-ad07-4228-955f-cf7e355c8cc0#section-2.1
3. https://www.mounjaro.com/what-is-mounjaro#about-mounjaro
4. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
By submitting this form you agree to be contacted via phone/text/email.