What is tirzepatide?
Written by Christina Palmer, MD | Reviewed by Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD
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Tirzepatide is a newer medication that was initially FDA approved May 2022 to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults.
How does tirzepatide cause weight loss?
Tirzepatide decreases your appetite and prolonging feelings of fullness. That’s because these effects can cause you to eat fewer calories.Tirzepatide is unique because it’s the first combination of two classes of medications: a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. Therefore, tirzepatide is known as a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.GLP-1 and GIP are both incretin hormones, which are hormones that are released after eating.
Tirzepatide works by mimicking their effects. This includes telling the pancreas to release insulin after eating and signaling the liver to lower the amount of glucose it’s making. These effects help lower blood glucose. In addition to helping lower blood glucose, tirzepatide helps with weight loss in a couple ways:It signals to the brain that you’re full — so you eat less. It slows the movement of food through your stomach — so you feel full longer.
The bottom lineTirzepatide is a weekly injection that can help lower blood glucose (sugar) for people with Type 2 diabetes. It’s also FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults with or without diabetes.
Along with diet and exercise, tirzepatide can lead to significant weight loss — an average of 15% to 20% (34 lbs to 48 lbs). But tirzepatide for weight loss is only recommended for people who meet certain BMI criteria.Tirzepatide signals to your brain that you’re full, slows down digestion, and lowers blood glucose. It may be one of many possible weight loss options.
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