What exactly is Mounjaro, and what does it do?

Written in association with: Mr Sanjay Agrawal
Published: | Updated: 14/10/2024
Edited by: Conor Lynch

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a new and innovative medication that has garnered attention for its potential to help people with weight loss, especially those who are struggling with obesity or related metabolic conditions. Originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro has shown significant weight loss benefits in clinical trials, making it a groundbreaking option for patients looking to manage their weight.

 

Manufactured by Eli Lilly, Mounjaro belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and GIP receptor agonists, which help regulate blood sugar levels and impact appetite.

How does it work?

Mounjaro works by mimicking two hormones naturally produced in the gut—GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). These hormones play a key role in controlling blood sugar, but they also have a significant effect on appetite and metabolism.

 

Mounjaro primarily works by regulating your appetite, giving you a sense of satiety (‘fullness’), making you feel less hungry and experience less food cravings. This will help you eat less food and reduce your body weight

 

What clinical trials have shown about Mounjaro

Clinical trials for Mounjaro have shown remarkable results for weight loss. In a study of patients with type 2 diabetes, participants lost an average of 15% to 20% of their body weight over the course of the trial, depending on the dosage.

 

This has made Mounjaro one of the most effective medications for weight loss currently available. For individuals who are obese but do not have diabetes, similar studies are underway to assess its long-term efficacy and safety.

 

While Mounjaro presents a promising option for weight loss, it is not a magic pill. It is designed to be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise to maximize its benefits. The drug is generally well-tolerated, but like all medications, it comes with potential side effects.

 

The most common side effects reported are gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, which tend to lessen over time as the body adjusts to the medication.

 

Mounjaro is available by prescription and should be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider. It is particularly beneficial for people who have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, or who have obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.

 

As more research emerges, Mounjaro could become a leading option in the fight against obesity, offering hope to millions of people looking for effective, long-term weight management solutions. 

By Mr Sanjay Agrawal
Surgery

Mr Sanjay Agrawal is one of London's leading consultants in the specialty of bariatric, laparoscopic and upper GI Surgery and is certified as a 'Master Surgeon in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery™ (MSMBS™)' by American Surgical Review Corporation. He is one of the country's prominent experts in obesity and weight loss surgery, with one of the procedures that he is most experienced in being the gastric sleeve procedure for weight loss. 

Mr Agrawal has undergone extensive training in the UK, Belgium, Japan and India and has undertaken more than 2,000 general surgical procedures so far. In addition, he has experience in over 1,750 laparoscopic bariatric procedures to date.

Mr Agrawal is Editor of the textbook titled "Obesity, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery: A Practical Guide" which has achieved more than 190,000 individual chapter downloads worldwide so far. He is also Director of London International Bariatric Surgery Symposium (LIBSS).

Mr Agrawal is a well-respected and very active member of the medical community, dividing his time between consultation and surgery, teaching, committee membership, publishing books and articles and even finding time for television appearances as an expert in his field. 

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