Zepbound or Wegovy? The study shows that we are better for weight loss

With several safe and effective weight loss drugs on the market, how can you say which is the best? New research may have an answer.

Eli Lilly’s Zepbound has proven more effective that Wegovy de Novo Nordisk in a new head-to-head test, although the two drugs have resulted in substantial weight loss.

The trial, called surmount-5, specifically noted that the obesity participants who took shooting (the active ingredient of Zepbound) More reductions in body weight and waist that those who took semglutide (Wegovy’s active ingredient).

“Thanks to the latest advances in obesity management drugs, more and more doctors and patients are attending a significant reduction in weight beyond what they have seen before,” said Louis Aronne, MD, director of the full weight control center of Weill Cornell Medicine and principal researcher of the Surmunt-5 trial, in a press release.

The surmount-5 data were presented for the first time in December 2024, but were then evaluated by peers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine May 11.

The Surmant-5 study recruited 751 overweight or obese adults. None of the participants had diabetes, although everyone had at least another condition, including high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol.

The researchers randomly assigned the participants to take Zepbound or Wegovy for 18 months.

At the end of the study, the results showed:

• People taking Zepbound have lost more body weight. Those of Zepbounds lost 20.2% of their body weight (around 50 pounds on average), while participants on Wegovy lost 13.7% (around 33 pounds).
• Zepbound has led to a greater reduction in the size of the size. On average, participants lost 18.4 centimeters around their size on Zepbound and 13 centimeters on Wegovy.

The majority of participants, whether they took Zepbound or Wegovy, experienced at least one side gastrointestinal side effect, such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting. The side effects were slightly more common in the Wegovy group – 5.6% of people on Wegovy abandoned the study early, against 2.7% of people taking Zepbound.

The results surmount-5 are not necessarily surprising, Avlin Imaeda, MD, PHD, associate professor of digestive diseases and medical director of the North Haven Endoscopy Center at the Yale School of Medicine, said Health.

A study published in July 2024 revealed that Mounjaro (another medication against shooting) has outperformed the ozempic (semaglutide) for weight loss.

And because participants in the trial were representative of the general population, you could expect to see the results summarizing among users of weight loss drugs as a whole, added Meera Shah, MB Chb, endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic.

However, there are a few limits. Shah said Health that the study had fewer participants than previous Zepbound trials, and only 80% of people finished the study. The test was not blinded either, which means that the participants and the research staff knew who received Zepound or Wegovy, opening the door to potential biases.

Dosage is one of the reasons why Zepbound why can be released in this trial. The maximum tolerated dose used in the Zepbound study was higher, 10 to 15 milligrams (MG), compared to 1.7 or 2.4 mg of Wegovy.

Novo Nordisk’s drug manufacturer will present unpublished data later this year, showing that a higher dose of Wegovy, 7.2 mg, causes more comparable weight loss.

Another possible explanation has to do with the formulation of Zepbound. Wegovy and Zepound are peptide-1 agonist drugs of the glucagon type (GLP-1), which means that they stimulate insulin production, reduce the appetite and surrender of the slow stomach. But Zepound is also an inhibitor gastric agonist (GIP)which can further control blood sugar and stimulate weight loss.

This last head-to-head test provides an important context for millions of Americans with obesity who plan to take Zepbound or Wegovy. The number of people taking GLP-1 drugs to lose weight increased by 700% between 2019 and 2023, and approximately one in eight American adults said they had tried a GLP-1 medication, with four out of 10 declaring that they mainly took them for weight loss.

So, should you ask your Zepbound doctor on Wegovy if you are looking to lose weight? In general, experts say yes.

“”I generally went to shoot [Zepbound] First of allBoth because it is better tolerated in my experience and it is more effective, “said Imaeda.” I have patients who were under semaglutide [Wegovy] And [were] Capable of changing because their weight loss has reached a tray. »»

However, Efficiency is only one of the factors that doctors consider before prescribing GLP-1 drugs. Others include:

• Undnocentity and tolerability of side effects
• Other medical conditions and risk factors
• Availability
• Insurance coverage

“In the past two weeks to months there, there [are] More companies that will only cover the semaglutide and not the shooting, “said Imaeda. Many of his patients have received opinions from their insurance company informing them that they will have to go from Zepbound to Wegovy in the coming months, she said.

Another consideration is the prevention of other diseases – GLP -1 in general has proven to have advantages for conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but Wegovy and Zepbound have different secondary treatment approvals.

“Wegovy is approved by the FDA for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and I would therefore promote this drug for patients with a history of cardiovascular or stroke,” said Shah. “Zepbound is approved by the FDA for patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea.”

Although Zepbound is more efficient than Wegovy, The two drugs are safe and effectiveAnd can change the lives of patients.

“Patients who have seen results on these drugs are often incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to live a life where they are not retained by their weight,” said Shah. “They feel better, move better, sleep better, have more self -confidence. And from a medical point of view, [they] have better health parameters such as blood pressure, liver function and glucose control. »»

But while you are on these drugs, remember that they are not a magic solution – you will always have to adjust your diet and stay active. In addition, Shah said that a patient in 20 has side effects that make them difficult to stay on the drug, so it is important to work with a doctor who adjusts your dosage safely, takes into account your risk factors and completely explains the side effects.