The Impact of Degree of Weight Loss on Tirzepatide's Cardiometabolic Benefits

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights that weight loss magnitude significantly influences the cardiometabolic improvements linked to tirzepatide treatment in adults with obesity or overweight. Conducted as a post-hoc analysis of a phase 3 trial, the research involved 1,605 participants without diabetes but with weight-related complications, who were randomly assigned to different tirzepatide dosage groups (5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly). The findings reveal that individuals losing at least 35% of their baseline body weight by week 72 experienced notable reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and hemoglobin A1c. Notably, the relationship between weight loss percentage and improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure was largely linear, with steeper benefits observed for systolic blood pressure. Even modest weight reductions (<20%) showed significant decreases in insulin resistance and blood sugar levels, especially within the range of 5% to 20% weight loss, underscoring the importance of even small weight reductions. Improvements in lipid profiles (triglycerides, HDL, LDL cholesterol) were more prominent after weight loss exceeding 10%. The study authors emphasized that identifying specific weight reduction thresholds associated with maximum cardiometabolic benefit could help clinicians tailor goals to individual patients. Several researchers disclosed affiliations with Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of tirzepatide. Overall, these insights suggest that the degree of weight loss attained during treatment plays a crucial role in maximizing cardiovascular and metabolic health improvements.

Source: Medical Express