“Tirzepatide: Promising Weight Loss Treatment for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes”

The results showed that people who received the highest dosage of tirzepatide lost an average of 15.6 kg (i.e. a reduction in body mass of 15.7%) in about a year and a half (72 weeks). This is significant and encouraging weight loss, especially since side effects were generally minor and limited to gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. These results pave the way for a possible imminent authorization of tirzepatide by the United States Medicines Agency (FDA) for obese people specifically, because at the moment it is only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is important to note that tirzepatide mimics a gastrointestinal hormone (GLP-1) that activates receptors in the brain involved in appetite regulation. This similarity allows the drug to help reduce appetite and control hunger, which can be very helpful for people suffering from obesity. It’s also worth noting that tirzepatide is already marketed as Mounjaro for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. American doctors already prescribe it outside of its marketing authorization for people wishing to lose weighteven if they do not have diabetes.

In the United States, approximately 40% of adults suffer from obesity, making it a considerable public health issue. Current treatments to combat obesity are not always effective, which is why tirzepatide and other similar drugs represent real hope for people suffering from this disease. It is important to point out that the global market for obesity treatments could represent 54 billion dollars by 2030, which explains the considerable interest of pharmaceutical companies in this field. The Novo Nordisk laboratory has already marketed a similar treatment called Wegovy, authorized by the FDA against obesity since June 2021. However, it is also important to note that these drugs are very expensive (around 1000 dollars per month) and are not always reimbursed by health insurance. In addition, they must be taken over the very long term to be effective, at the risk of regaining weight when treatment is stopped.