This popular GLP-1 drug helps shed massive amount of weight and keep it off for years, find scientists

Weight loss drugs can work wonders for the weight loss journey helping people shed a massive amount of weight. However, many have debated if these effects last for a longer period. A new study by Italian scientists has found that Mounjaro can help maintain weight loss over three years, with women reaping more benefits from the drug compared to men.
The trial involved 700 men and women who were either obese or overweight and had prediabetes. Half of them were given tirzepatide, the ingredient in Mounjaro, while the remaining got a placebo.
It was found that after a period of three years of using the jabs, those on weight-loss drugs lost up to 30 per cent of the body weight, compared to just 10 per cent in the placebo group. Its results will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga next month.
Mounjaro mimics two hormones called GLP-1 and GIP. It curbs appetite, increases production of insulin, and slows down the rate at which food is emptied from the stomach. It can be bought with a prescription and is available for weight loss to some people on the NHS.

In the trial, women on weight loss drugs lost an average of 31 per cent of their body weight, while men shed around 26 per cent.
Women could also keep losing weight for longer, with 82.7 per cent hitting their weight plateau after 36 to 48 weeks. In the case of men, 74.5 per cent of them plateaued earlier.
Once the participants stopped losing weight, most could keep the pounds off. Around 87 per cent of them remained at least 20 to 25 per cent down on their starting weight. This highlights the long-term efficacy of the jabs.
“Our long-term analysis of tirzepatide establishes that clinically relevant weight loss can be sustained for up to three years in a diverse population of adults," wrote study author Dr Luca Busetto, from the University of Padova.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine concluded that compared to Ozempic, people who took Mounjaro lost significantly more weight. Also, the longer the patients kept taking the drugs, the wider the gap became.
Mounjaro and Ozempic were both developed as type 2 diabetes drugs with the active ingredients tirzepatide and semaglutide, respectively. Tirzepatide is also marketed by Eli Lilly as Zepbound, while semaglutide is available as Wegovy by Novo Nordisk; both of them are promoted as weight loss drugs.

Some people may quit Mounjaro as their insurance no longer supports it or they may be experiencing some unpleasant side effects. Once it's stopped, people may start to gain back the weight due to increase in appetite. One may need a larger portion of food when they do not take GLP-1 drugs anymore. People may also experience a change in food taste after stopping tirzepatide.