Mounjaro vs Wegovy

The evidence is clear: when combined with healthy lifestyle interventions, Wegovy and Mounjaro are both effective ways of losing weight. 

The two work by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller for longer, but the active ingredient in them is different. Wegovy contains semaglutide which works on your body’s GLP-1 receptors, whilst Mounjaro contains tirzepatide which works on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors.

But which one is more effective for weight loss? Let’s take a look.

How effective is Wegovy?

A number of studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of Wegovy which show the benefits of the medication for weight loss.

The landmark 2021 study looked at the effects of semaglutide plus lifestyle interventions on 1,961 adults over a 68 week period. Some patients received a placebo and the remainder took a weekly semaglutide injection. By the end of the 68 weeks, the participants taking semaglutide lost on average 17% of their starting body weight*.

^{*Results measured in participants who adhered to the dosing schedule and reached the maximum dose of semaglutide.}

How effective is Mounjaro?

All of the clinical evidence to date suggests that Mounjaro is a highly effective treatment for obesity when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.

The biggest Mounjaro study looked at the effects of tirzepatide on 2,539 adults, some of whom received a placebo. It found that tirzepatide patients who also implemented positive lifestyle changes lost on average 21% of their body weight over the course of 18 months.

In a separate study, tirzepatide patients experienced 25% weight loss over 88 weeks.

Which is better?

Based on the studies that have been carried out, Mounjaro is a more effective weight loss medication than Wegovy. When combined with positive lifestyle changes, patients can expect to lose 21% of their body weight after 18 months of Mounjaro treatment, compared to 17% after 17 months on Wegovy.

However, it’s worth pointing out that there are no guarantees one will work better for you. Each medication affects people differently, and it may be that your body responds to one better than the other. If you’re prescribed one but your body isn’t responding as it should, your clinician may recommend switching.

The numan take

Although Wegovy and Mounjaro work in similar ways, patients can expect greater weight loss with Mounjaro. But each medication affects people differently and you may be better-suited to one over the other. Regardless of which one works for you, the best way to achieve long-term weight loss is always to incorporate healthier habits into your lifestyle alongside your treatment plan.