A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that tirzepatide, a medication originally developed for diabetes, may offer substantial and long-lasting weight loss and significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people with obesity and prediabetes.
Study Overview
The study, led by Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff from Yale School of Medicine, involved 2,539 participants with obesity. Among them, 1,032 also had prediabetes.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a weekly injection of tirzepatide (at doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg) or a placebo for 176 weeks (about three years). This was followed by a 17-week off-treatment period to assess whether the benefits were maintained after stopping the drug.
Key Findings
- Significant Weight Loss
- People taking tirzepatide lost an average of:
- 12.3% of their body weight on the 5 mg dose
- 18.7% on the 10 mg dose
- 19.7% on the 15 mg dose
- In contrast, those on placebo lost just 1.3% of their body weight.
- Lower Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
- Only 1.3% of tirzepatide users developed type 2 diabetes during the study, compared to 13.3% of those on placebo.
- After stopping the treatment for 17 weeks, 2.4% of former tirzepatide users had developed diabetes, compared to 13.7% in the placebo group.
- Side Effects and Safety
- The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues (such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), but these were mostly mild to moderate in severity.
- Other than COVID-19, there were no major safety concerns.
What This Means for Patients with Obesity and Prediabetes
These results show that tirzepatide is highly effective for both weight loss and diabetes prevention. The nearly 20% body weight reduction seen with higher doses is among the most significant ever reported for a medication.
Additionally, the dramatic decrease in diabetes risk suggests that this drug could play a major role in preventing disease progression in high-risk individuals.
While further research is needed to assess long-term effects and benefits beyond three years, tirzepatide appears to be a promising option for people struggling with obesity and prediabetes. As obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, this medication could help millions avoid the disease and improve their overall health.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with diabetic neuropathic pain.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that Vitamin E could help reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance in diabetes, and results showing eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
The research findings can be found in New England Journal of Medicine.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
