Semaglutide and Tirzepatide!! I wanted to do a blog with some medical terminology and definitions of both medications to explain what these 2 weight loss injection medications consist of. Tirzepatide has both GIP and GLP-1 peptides, while Semaglutide is GLP-1 peptide only. Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) are the two primary incretin hormones secreted from the intestine on ingestion of glucose or nutrients to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. They work by stimulating insulin secretion glucose‐dependently. In addition to their insulinotropic effects, GIP and GLP‐1 play critical roles in various biological processes in different tissues and organs that express GIPR and GLP‐1R, including the pancreas, fat, bone and the brain. In adipose tissues, GIP but not GLP‐1 facilitates fat deposition. In bone, GIP promotes bone formation while GLP‐1 inhibits bone absorption. In the brain, both GIP and GLP‐1 are thought to be involved in memory formation as well as the control of appetite. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro or Zepbound) is both a GIP and GLP-1. This is why it is proposed to be the most successful for weight loss as it directly affects adipose tissue (fat). Semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) is a GLP-1 only, but it still has great weight loss capabilities. Most will tell you the Tirzepatide has fewer GI side effects. There are new studies that proclaim the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1, producing cardioprotective properties, as well as, anti-inflammatory properties. The side effect profile is similar for both Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, which are mostly GI related due to the slowing of gut motility. The benefits of weight loss far outweigh any possible adverse effects of these medications. Reducing your overall BMI has been associated with lower blood pressure, lower insulin resistance, lower cholesterol, lower HgA1c, lower lipid levels, lower risk for stroke or heart attack. It is important that you have a medical professional monitoring you while on these medications. There are those that are selling these products online and they are not safe for use because consumers do not know where they come from or if they are even legitimate. Keeping a healthy weight is not only great for your overall health, but also for your mental health. More studies need to be done to establish any long term effects of using these medications indefinitely. As always, using a balanced approach of diet and exercise is essential. Overall, I feel these medications are a game-changer for those who struggle with their weight. I am happy to offer these medications as one of the options to treating obesity for my clients. I am not only a provider, but also a weight loss client who had very good success with GLP-1 injections.
Sincerely,
Julie Moore, FNP/Nourish Wellness, LLC