Continuing Tirzepatide Leads to Maintenance of Weight Reduction
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2023 -- Withdrawing tirzepatide after 36 weeks is associated with regain of lost weight, while weight loss is maintained with continued treatment, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Louis J. Aronne, M.D., from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and colleagues examined the effect of tirzepatide with diet and physical activity on the maintenance of weight reduction in a phase 3 trial conducted at 70 sites in four countries. A total of 783 participants enrolled in an open-label lead-in period received once-weekly tirzepatide for 36 weeks; at week 36, 670 participants were randomly assigned to continue receiving tirzepatide or switch to placebo for 52 weeks (335 participants in both groups).
The mean weight reduction was 20.9 percent for the 670 participants who completed the 36-week lead-in period. The researchers found that from week 36 to 88, the mean percent weight change was −5.5 versus 14.0 percent with tirzepatide and placebo, respectively (difference, −19.4 percent). Overall, 89.5 and 16.6 percent of those receiving tirzepatide and placebo, respectively, maintained at least 80 percent of the weight lost during the lead-in period. From week 0 to 88, the overall mean weight reduction was 25.3 and 9.9 percent for tirzepatide and placebo, respectively. Mostly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal events, which occurred more commonly with tirzepatide versus placebo, were the most common adverse events reported.
"The SURMOUNT-4 trial results emphasize the need to continue pharmacotherapy to prevent weight regain and ensure the maintenance of weight reduction and its associated cardiometabolic benefits," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, which manufactures tirzepatide and funded the study.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2023
Read this next
BMI Cutoff of 30 for Obesity May Be Too High for Middle-Aged, Older Adults
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- The optimal body mass index (BMI) cutoff point appears to be 27 kg/m2 for detecting obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study presented...
Weight Navigation Program Boosts Use of Weight Management Treatments
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- A primary care-based weight navigation program (WNP) is feasible and associated with greater use of weight management treatments (WMT) and weight loss...
Demographic, Clinical, Financial Factors Tied to GLP-1 Agonist Discontinuation
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Specific demographic, clinical, and financial characteristics are associated with glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist discontinuation...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.