Understanding GLP-1 Medications: An Evidence Overview
Shane Grindle, DNP, APRN
Founder, Palm Health & GLP Help
What the trials studied
In STEP 1, adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes received weekly injected semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo, alongside lifestyle intervention. Mean weight change at 68 weeks was −14.9% with semaglutide and −2.4% with placebo. In that trial, 86.4% of semaglutide participants lost at least 5% of their starting weight. These are group results, not a prediction for an individual.
SURMOUNT-1 studied tirzepatide in adults without diabetes. Under its treatment-regimen analysis, mean weight reduction at 72 weeks was 20.9% at 15 mg and 3.1% with placebo. Comparisons across separate trials have limits; these figures are not a head-to-head comparison or a recommended dose.
Product instructions matter
Approved indications, formulations and safety instructions vary by product. Read the current Wegovy or Zepbound information with your prescriber. Adult weight-management eligibility is different from a diabetes indication.
These labels include contraindications for a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, MEN2, and serious hypersensitivity. Pancreatitis and other conditions require separate risk assessment; a warning is not the same as a formal contraindication. Hypoglycemia risk can increase with insulin or sulfonylureas.
Pregnancy instructions are product-specific. Semaglutide's two-month planning interval should not be generalized to every GLP-1 medication. Discuss pregnancy plans, other medicines and your medical history before treatment.
Questions for your care team
Ask which product is appropriate, what follow-up is needed, and what symptoms should prompt urgent care. GLP Help's tracking tools can organize dose and weight logs for that conversation. Visit Palm Health for current clinic information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does finishing titration mean I have reached my maximum weight change? No. Titration and long-term treatment outcomes are different; the trials measured outcomes over many months.
What did withdrawal research find? In the STEP 1 extension, participants regained approximately two-thirds of prior weight loss in the year after both semaglutide and structured lifestyle intervention were withdrawn. Discuss ongoing treatment and transitions with your prescriber.