Tirzepatide for Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Tirzepatide, a once-a-week injection used to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, was approved for use last month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, tirzepatide, in combination with diet and exercise, has helped patients without diabetes lose significant weight. A new study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows an average weight loss of 19.5% and 20.9% for participants taking 10-mg and 15-mg weekly doses of tirzepatide compared to a 3.1% weight loss for participants taking a placebo (Jastreboff, 2022). In the past, a body-weight reduction of 5% or more has been considered the standard for meaningful weight loss, giving tirzepatide a promising future in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity, which affects both adults and children, is one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century and it is unquestionably a national epidemic in the United States. From 1999 to 2020 the prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased from 30.5% to 41.9% (CDC, 2022). Although the exact relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes is not completely known, as the prevalence of obesity has increased, so has the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (Gastaldelli, 2022). Additionally, it is common for obese patients with type 2 diabetes to stop showing signs of diabetes all together when they lose weight. For this reason, focusing on healthier lifestyle choices and weight loss is extremely important.

Many factors can contribute to being overweight including eating, exercise, and sleeping habits as well as genetics, social determinants, and certain medications. Even though there has been a special emphasis to educate Americans on the importance of healthy diets and quality exercise, for many, maintaining weight loss long-term can be a challenge.

Currently many doctors are encouraging patients to consider bariatric surgery as the next best option to lose weight. Although more research is needed to determine the potential long-term side effects, supplementing healthy habits with a medication like tirzepatide might serve as an alternative to surgical intervention for weight loss and improved health.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022, February). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from Overweight & Obesity | CDC

Jastreboff, Ania M., Aronne, Louis J., Ahmad, Nadia N. (2022, June). Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved from Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity | NEJM

Klein S, Gastaldelli A, Yki-Järvinen H, Scherer PE. Why does obesity cause diabetes? Cell Metab. 2022 Jan 4;34(1):11-20. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.12.012. PMID: 34986330; PMCID: PMC8740746.