What they are & how they work
Wegovy® (semaglutide) and Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) are modern medicines that help people lose weight. They work by copying natural hormones in your body which control appetite. This makes you feel full sooner, reduces hunger, and slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach. They also help the body manage blood sugar more effectively.
How much weight can you lose?
- Wegovy®: In large studies, people lost about 15% of their body weight over 16 months when using Wegovy® alongside healthy eating and activity, compared with about 2–3% with lifestyle changes alone.
- Mounjaro®: In similar studies, people lost 16–22% of their body weight, depending on the dose, when combined with diet and activity support.
Benefits for the heart
In people who are overweight or living with obesity and already have heart disease, Wegovy® was shown to reduce the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack or stroke by about 20% compared with those not on the medicine.
Blood pressure and other health risks
People taking these medicines often see a small drop in blood pressure and improvements in other risk factors linked to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This is especially powerful when combined with better diet and regular exercise.
Who might be suitable?
Doctors usually recommend these medicines for people who:
- Have a higher BMI (usually above 30, or above 27 if there are weight-related health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure).
- Are motivated to combine treatment with healthier eating and more physical activity.
Your clinician will check your personal health history to make sure it’s safe and appropriate for you.
Safety and side effects
The dose is increased slowly at the start to give your body time to adjust. The most common side effects are feeling sick, being sick, constipation, diarrhoea etc. These usually get better as your body adapts.
Some people cannot take these medicines because of certain medical conditions or risks. Your prescriber will carefully check the official safety information (SmPC) and your own health before prescribing.
