Weight Loss Medication Study

Participants in SURMOUNT-3, after 12 weeks of intensive lifestyle intervention, achieved an additional 21.1% mean weight loss with tirzepatide for a total mean weight loss of 26.6% from study entry over 84 weeks

Participants in SURMOUNT-4 achieved 21.1% weight loss during a 36-week tirzepatide lead-in period and an additional 6.7% weight loss during a 52-week continued treatment period, for a total mean weight loss of 26.0% over 88 weeks

INDIANAPOLIS, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced results of two phase 3 tirzepatide studies in adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related comorbidities, excluding type 2 diabetes. SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4 met all primary and key secondary objectives for tirzepatide compared to placebo. Across SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4, participants on tirzepatide following intensive lifestyle intervention or with continued tirzepatide treatment, achieved up to 26.6% mean weight loss, for the efficacy estimandi.

The overall safety profile of tirzepatide in both studies was similar to previously reported SURMOUNT and SURPASS trials and to that of incretin-based therapies approved for the treatment of obesity and overweight. The most commonly reported adverse events in both trials were gastrointestinal-related and generally mild to moderate in severity.

"The results of SURMOUNT-3 and -4 showed the highest level of weight loss observed in the SURMOUNT program to date," said Jeff Emmick, MD, Ph.D., senior vice president, product development, Lilly. "Whether taking tirzepatide for 88 weeks in SURMOUNT-4 or taking tirzepatide for 72 weeks following intensive caloric restriction in SURMOUNT-3, participants achieved similar mean weight reduction — about 26%. The findings from SURMOUNT-3 challenge the notion that patients living with obesity or overweight can achieve their weight loss goals with diet and exercise alone. Additionally, the findings from SURMOUNT-4 reinforce that obesity should be regarded like other chronic diseases where chronic therapy may be needed to maintain treatment benefits."

Quick quiz: What weighs between 25 and 30 grams - roughly one ounce - lives in your throat and has a lot to say about how tall or short you are, what your heart rate is, how much weight you might lose or gain and much, much more?

If you said the thyroid gland you are correct. It's a busy and important little gland, which makes it a matter of concern in that "an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease and up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition," according to the American Thyroid Association.

Dr. Felice Haake (pronounced "hockey") volunteered to step in and shed some light on thyroid problems. Two thyroid conditions - hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism - can have a major impact on how much weight you lose or gain.

As the Mayo Clinic explains, "hyperthyroidism - or an overactive thyroid -  occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body's metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss as well as rapid or irregular heartbeat," along with swelling of the thyroid gland, which can cause a noticeable lump known as a goiter to form in the throat. 

Meanwhile, an under-active thyroid gland, know as "hypothyroidism," occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones, causing symptoms such as tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.

READ FULL STORY