Diabetes

Can a New Weight Loss Medication Help You Keep the Pounds Off?

Jasmine C

23 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

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What Did the Research Discover?

Scientists conducted a study to see if a medication called tirzepatide could help people maintain and further their weight loss after an intensive diet and exercise program. The study included 579 adults who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes. Before starting the medication, these individuals had already lost at least 5% of their body weight through a 12-week lifestyle program that included diet changes, exercise, and counseling.

After completing the lifestyle program, participants were randomly assigned to receive either tirzepatide or a placebo (a treatment with no active ingredient) for 72 weeks. The researchers measured how much additional weight participants lost and how many were able to lose at least 5% more of their body weight.

The results were striking. People who took tirzepatide lost an average of 18.4% of their body weight after 72 weeks, while those who took the placebo gained back about 2.5% of their weight. Additionally, 87.5% of those on tirzepatide lost at least 5% more weight, compared to only 16.5% in the placebo group. The most common side effects of tirzepatide were mild to moderate stomach-related issues, such as nausea and diarrhea.

How Can I Apply This Information?

This research shows that tirzepatide can help people continue losing weight even after completing an intensive diet and exercise program. It suggests that using a medication like tirzepatide after losing some weight through lifestyle changes may help people avoid regaining weight and achieve even greater weight loss.

However, it is important to note that this was a research study, and tirzepatide is still being studied for weight loss. While it is already approved for diabetes treatment, doctors and health experts are still learning about its long-term effects for weight management. If you are struggling with weight loss, talk to a healthcare provider to see if this kind of treatment could be right for you.

Source:

Wadden TA, Chao AM, Machineni S, Kushner R, Ard J, Srivastava G, Halpern B, Zhang S, Chen J, Bunck MC, Ahmad NN. Tirzepatide after intensive lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight or obesity: the SURMOUNT-3 phase 3 trial. Nature medicine. 2023 Nov;29(11):2909-18. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10667099/

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