If you’ve been following health news lately, you’ve probably heard about the buzz surrounding new weight loss medications. Three names that keep popping up are Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs have been making waves in the UK, promising significant weight loss results. But with so much information out there, it can be confusing to understand what sets them apart.
Wegovy is a prescription medication containing the active ingredient Semaglutide. It is administered as a once-weekly injection and is intended for adults with obesity or those who are overweight with related health issues. Importantly, Wegovy is prescribed to be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise as part of a chronic weight management plan.
Ozempic is another medication that contains semaglutide. While it shares the same core compound as Wegovy, Ozempic was initially developed and approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Like Wegovy, Ozempic is administered as a subcutaneous injection, typically once a week. However, the doses of Ozempic for diabetes management are generally lower than the doses used in Wegovy for weight loss.
Mounjaro is a newer medication, and unlike Wegovy and Ozempic, which contain semaglutide, Mounjaro’s active ingredient is tirzepatide. It is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and is used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss.
| Feature | Wegovy | Ozempic | Mounjaro |
| Active Ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| Approved Use in the UK | Weight loss | Type 2 diabetes | Weight loss and Type 2 diabetes |
| Mechanism of Action | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Eligibility | BMI ≥30 kg/m² or BMI ≥27 kg/m² with weight-related condition | People with type 2 diabetes | BMI ≥30 kg/m² or BMI ≥27 kg/m² with weight-related condition |
| Starting Dosage | 0.25 mg | 0.25 mg | 2.5 mg |
| Maximum / Maintenance Dose | 2.4 mg | 2 mg | 15 mg |
| Average Weight Loss | Up to 15% of body weight | Up to 10.9% of body weight | Up to 22.5% of body weight |
| Dosing Schedule | Weekly injection | Weekly injection | Weekly injection |
| UK Approval for Weight Loss | 2022 | Not approved for weight loss | 2023 |
| Prescription Availability | Available for weight loss | Available for type 2 diabetes | Available for weight loss |
| Manufactured By | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
In the UK, people are more likely to be obese or overweight if they have long-term health issues, including diabetes. All three medications help the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high and stop glucagon, which prevents the liver from adding more sugar to the blood. While they all manage blood sugar levels and insulin production, their primary approved uses differ slightly.
Ozempic was initially developed and approved specifically to treat type 2 diabetes. It helps lower high blood sugar levels in adults with this condition and is approved for this use only in the UK.
Mounjaro is also approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have shown it to be effective in improving blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.
Wegovy, while containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), is not used to treat diabetes. It’s primarily approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight and have at least one weight-related condition, like diabetes, high blood pressure or a risk of cardiovascular events. While Wegovy isn’t primarily for diabetes treatment, the weight loss it promotes can have positive effects on blood sugar control and insulin function.
The choice between these medications for diabetes management would depend on the patient’s specific health profile, including their high blood sugar levels, treatment goals, and the discretion of their GP or pharmacist.
Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. You would think this means that their mechanisms of action are the same, but they have some key differences.
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide as their active ingredient. Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite. This leads to reduced hunger and calorie intake and slows down stomach emptying, promoting a feeling of fullness for longer periods.
Mounjaro, containing tirzepatide, has a unique dual-action mechanism. It acts as both a GLP-1 and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. This helps food move slower through your digestive system, helping you feel full longer and reduces your appetite, so you eat less. GIP helps improve insulin release and control blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin response, which helps lower blood sugar spikes and can reduce hunger and cravings. This, in turn, promotes weight loss. This dual action further affects blood sugar control and weight management compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists alone.
In 2023, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) specifically approved Wegovy for weight management. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, based on results from clinical trials showing significant weight loss, Mounjaro received approval to treat obesity in the UK in late 2023.
Ozempic is only approved in the UK for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, it has gained significant attention for its off-label use as a weight loss medication. This off-label prescribing became widespread, leading to a serious shortage of Ozempic for patients who need it to manage their diabetes. The increased demand for a weight loss solution significantly impacted its availability for its intended use.
While all three medications can potentially lead to weight reduction, they should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional and alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical exercise. The choice of medication would depend on the patient’s specific health profile, including their BMI, weight-related health conditions, and treatment goals.
While Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro can be effective for their intended uses, they also have potential side effects. Due to their similar mechanisms of action, many of these side effects are similar across all three medications.
Common side effects are:
Less common but more serious side effects can include:
While the side effect profiles are similar, individual experiences may vary. The higher doses of semaglutide in Wegovy might lead to more pronounced or severe side effects than Ozempic. Mounjaro’s dual-action mechanism might also result in a slightly different side effect profile.
Several large-scale clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of these medications, and these results were achieved alongside lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults with obesity or overweight with at least one comorbidity (but without diabetes) were treated for 72 weeks. Those receiving 15 mg of tirzepatide achieved an average weight loss of 22.5% of their body weight. The average weight loss at the 10 mg dose was 21.4%, and at 5 mg, it was 16%.
In the STEP 1 trial, adults without diabetes but with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition were treated for 68 weeks. Those receiving Semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight.
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