Wegovy vs. Zepbound: Key Variations to Know


In the event you’re contemplating taking a GLP-1 treatment for weight reduction, you’ve most likely heard of the 2 main manufacturers within the house: Wegovy and Zepbound. (Ozempic and Mounjaro are additionally GLP-1s, however are designed and primarily prescribed for these with Sort 2 diabetes.) Right here, get key insights from educators affiliated with every firm and a number one internist who prescribes these drugs frequently, so you may determine which possibility is greatest for you.

Featured Specialists

  • Dr. Amanda Kahn, a board-certified internist and longevity professional 
  • Dr. Luis-Emilio Garcia, vp of World Medical Affairs and Cardiometabolic Well being at Eli Lilly and Firm
  • Jason Brett, principal U.S. medical head at Novo Nordisk

Why Is Everybody Speaking About GLP-1s Proper Now?

“Within the U.S. alone, greater than 110 million individuals are dwelling with weight problems, and by 2030, cardiometabolic illnesses like weight problems, diabetes and heart problems might have an effect on one third of adults globally,” says Dr. Luis-Emilio Garcia, vp of World Medical Affairs and Cardiometabolic Well being at Eli Lilly and Firm, the mother or father firm of Zepbound. “For many individuals with weight problems, life-style modifications alone—weight loss program, train, behavioral counseling—might not end in ample and sustained weight discount.” That’s the place GLP-1 drugs come into play.

“GLP-1s have utterly reworked the panorama of weight administration and metabolic medication,” says Dr. Amanda Kahn, a board-certified internist and longevity professional. “For the primary time, we have now a remedy that not solely helps individuals lose vital quantities of physique fats, but in addition does so by focusing on the foundation organic causes of overeating, insulin resistance and irritation somewhat than counting on solely on life-style modification and willpower. From a long life standpoint, their affect goes far past the dimensions. These drugs cut back persistent irritation, enhance insulin sensitivity, help vascular well being, and cut back the long-term danger of diabetes, heart problems dementia and even some cancers. They mimic pure hormones launched after consuming, serving to regulate blood sugar, urge for food and digestion, however in addition they seem to affect inflammatory and hormonal pathways linked to growing older and illness.”

The Key Variations to Know About When Contemplating a GLP-1

“Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are each highly effective instruments on this new period of metabolic medication, however they work a bit in a different way,” says Dr. Kahn. “Semaglutide is a pure GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the physique’s pure GLP-1 hormone. This hormone slows digestion, improves satiety and balances blood sugar. Tirzepatide is a twin agonist that acts on each GLP-1 and one other hormone known as GIP.” Under, we discover the important thing variations between them.

What’s Wegovy?

“Wegovy is an FDA-approved prescription medication used alongside a lowered calorie weight loss program and elevated bodily exercise to assist individuals dwelling with weight problems cut back extra physique weight and preserve weight discount long-term,” says Jason Brett, principal U.S. medical head at Novo Nordisk, the mother or father firm of Wegovy. “It really works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone within the physique known as GLP-1—glucagon-like-peptide1—which helps regulate urge for food. By performing on urge for food management facilities within the mind, Wegovy helps individuals eat fewer energy and shed extra pounds.” 

Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is FDA-approved, together with a lowered calorie weight loss program and elevated bodily exercise, to:

  • Scale back the chance of main cardiovascular occasions equivalent to demise, coronary heart assault, and stroke in adults with identified heart problems and both weight problems or chubby
  • Assist adults and kids aged 12 years and older with weight problems, or sure adults with chubby who even have weight-related medical issues, lose extra physique weight and hold it off
  • Deal with adults with noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) who’ve average to superior liver fibrosis

What’s Zepbound?

“Zepbound is a once-weekly injection prescription medication,” says Dr. Garcia. “It’s a twin receptor agonist, that means it targets two receptors—GIP and GLP-1—present in areas of the human mind which are essential for urge for food regulation. Zepbound reduces urge for food, meals consumption, physique fats and physique weight. By focusing on each GIP and GLP-1 receptors, Zepbound is not like different incretins accepted for weight problems administration, which goal solely GLP-1 receptors.” Dr. Kahn provides that as a result of Zepbound additionally targets GIP, it offers further advantages for fats metabolism and insulin sensitivity. “This usually ends in extra vital fats focusing on with higher muscle preservation,” she explains.

Zepbound is on the market in an autoinjector (a single-dose pen) and a single-dose vial, and is FDA-approved for the therapy of weight problems, in addition to for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with weight problems. This treatment is supposed to be prescribed by a health care provider as a part of a long-term therapy plan, alongside weight loss program and train.

What are the uncomfortable side effects of Wegovy and Zepbound?

Each drugs share related potential uncomfortable side effects, which Dr. Kahn says can embrace gentle gastrointestinal signs equivalent to nausea, bloating, constipation and/or reflux. “These results happen as a result of GLP-1s sluggish gastric emptying and alter intestine motility,” she explains. “Nonetheless, in observe, Zepbound usually causes fewer or milder preliminary GI uncomfortable side effects in comparison with Wegovy. That is possible as a result of addition of the GIP pathway, which seems to modulate digestion extra easily and buffer a number of the nausea or bowel motion adjustments seen with pure GLP-1 agonists.” 

“The gastrointestinal uncomfortable side effects are normally gentle to average, however generally will be extreme, and have a tendency to happen early, when beginning therapy or rising the dose,” Brett provides. “Usually, they’re transient, that means they usually go away with time.” Dr. Kahn recommends “beginning low and titrating slowly, staying hydrated and guaranteeing enough dietary fiber, which can assist decrease discomfort, in addition to working with a supplier who may be very skilled with the nuances of GLP-1 remedy.” She additionally says supplementing with vitamin B12 will be useful, as GLP-1 drugs might barely cut back B12 absorption over time. “When launched thoughtfully, most sufferers tolerate these drugs very nicely and expertise solely transient adjustment signs.”

Which one is simpler?

Each drugs are extremely efficient, Dr. Kahn says, however scientific research present tirzepatide (Zepbound) usually produces extra substantial outcomes. “On common, sufferers utilizing tirzepatide lose about 22 to 25 % of their complete physique weight, in comparison with roughly 15 % with semaglutide [Wegovy],” she explains. The scientific research Dr. Kahn is referencing is the SURMOUNT-5 scientific trial (revealed in Might 2025) of 751 adults with weight problems or chubby however with out kind 2 diabetes. This research straight in contrast the outcomes of Wegovy and Zepbound on these people, and Zepbound led to superior weight discount in comparison with Wegovy: 20.2 % or 50.3 lbs vs. 13.7 % or 33.1 lbs, respectively. 

“Tirzepatide’s twin mechanism, focusing on each GLP-1 and GIP receptors, seems to create a extra balanced metabolic impact, bettering fats burning whereas higher preserving lean muscle,” says Dr. Kahn. With the addition of GIP, we discover fewer of the gastrointestinal side-effects seen with semaglutide. For these causes, I usually prescribe Zepbound as a first-line agent for a metabolic reset. That stated, each drugs dramatically cut back insulin resistance, irritation and cardiovascular danger components. The selection usually will depend on particular person tolerance, response and private well being objectives somewhat than a easy stronger versus weaker comparability.”

“That stated, if a brand new affected person is already doing nicely on Wegovy and seeing constant progress, I typically don’t swap them until they categorical curiosity in making an attempt a special method or in the event that they plateau on their present routine,” Dr. Kahn continues. “Each drugs will be efficient when personalised to the person, however Zepbound tends to supply broader metabolic and longevity advantages total. In the end, I tailor therapy to the person. Longevity medication is about personalization.”

Who ought to and shouldn’t take these GLP-1 drugs?

“Initially, these drugs had been developed for individuals with weight problems—a BMI over 30—or those that are chubby—BMI over 27—with associated well being points equivalent to excessive ldl cholesterol or hypertension,” explains Dr. Kahn. “Nonetheless, in longevity medication, the best candidate isn’t all the time outlined by BMI alone. Sufferers can have a standard BMI however can have a excessive physique fats proportion on physique composition testing. I additionally take into account GLP-1s for people with visceral fats accumulation, indicators of insulin resistance, fatty liver or inflammatory circumstances, so even in those that seem lean externally however have inside metabolic or inflammatory imbalances.”

Nonetheless, Dr. Kahn says there are essential exclusions. “Individuals with a historical past of medullary thyroid most cancers, a number of endocrine neoplasia kind 2 (MEN2) or extreme gastrointestinal motility issues shouldn’t take these drugs,” she advises. “They need to even be used cautiously in people who’re already underweight or have a historical past of disordered consuming. The aim is to revive stability and enhance metabolic flexibility, to not simply push for weight reduction, or to take weight reduction to an excessive.”



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