What is the Best Injection for Weight Loss?

Key Takeaways

The newest weight loss drug, Zepbound (tirzepatide), has an additional mechanism of action on GIP receptors in addition to GLP-1 receptors and has shown the best results in clinical trials.

There are currently three injectable medications that are approved for weight loss. These weight loss drugs were originally developed as diabetes medications to help control blood sugar levels. However, they were also found to help with weight loss when used along with a healthy lifestyle, including a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise routine.

Please continue reading to learn more about some of the “fat-burning” injections that can help you in your weight loss journey.

What injections do doctors give for weight loss?

There are three FDA-approved injections that can help you lose weight:

Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

What is the best weight loss injection?

The new weight loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) has shown the best results in clinical trials. It has an additional mechanism of action on GIP receptors in addition to GLP-1 receptors and may, therefore, have greater weight loss benefits. Learn more about tirzepatide for weight loss.

Your healthcare professional will help you choose the best weight loss injection. Remember, these drugs only prevent weight gain and promote weight loss when supplemented by a healthy diet and regular physical activity to boost metabolism and energy levels.

Some of the factors to keep in mind when choosing between weight loss injections include:

Convenience: Some injectable medications approved for weight loss need to be injected daily (Saxenda), while others are once-weekly injections (Wegovy and Zepbound). Learn about Saxenda vs Ozempic for weight loss.
Insurance coverage: The choice between the various injectable weight loss drugs may be dictated by insurance plans. This is an important factor because, without insurance, the out-of-pocket expense of treatment with a GLP-1 receptor agonist can run into thousands of dollars.
Side effects: Weight loss injections tend to cause similar side effects. However, you may tolerate one better than another. Your healthcare professional will start you on a low dose and gradually increase to higher doses over several weeks to give your body a chance to adjust to the medicine.

If diet and exercise alone have failed to help you reach your weight loss goals and you are not a candidate for weight loss injections, talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options, including other weight loss drugs and bariatric surgery.

Weight loss of just 5-10% from your baseline weight can significantly reduce your risk of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular problems (heart disease, heart attack, and stroke) and improve your overall health.

What is the safest weight loss injection?

No one weight loss medication is safer than the others. Injections for weight loss (Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound) have a similar safety profile. They are relatively new drugs, and their long-term effects are not well known.

We do know that these weight loss medications are associated with an increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Therefore, you should not take injections for weight loss if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2).

Other risks associated with taking weight loss injections include acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), increased heart rate, kidney injury, allergic reactions, and suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Tell your doctor about your pre-existing medical conditions and provide them with a complete list of your other medications to prevent potentially dangerous drug interactions before starting weight loss treatment.

How do weight loss injections help people lose weight?

Weight loss injections belong to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They were originally developed to treat diabetes. These, and other antidiabetic medications from this class, increase insulin levels and regulate blood sugar levels. The three injections listed above were subsequently FDA-approved for weight loss.

In addition to blood sugar management, it was found that these drugs also slow the emptying of gastric contents. This results in increased fullness, decreased appetite, and reduced caloric intake, thereby promoting weight loss. Learn more about the best diabetes drugs for weight loss.

Who can take injections for chronic weight management?

People who meet the following criteria can take these injectable drugs for weight loss treatment:

Obese adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher.
Overweight adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar levels.

Two of these medications (liraglutide and semaglutide injections) are also approved for use in overweight or obese children ages 12 years and older. Find out who should not take Wegovy and other weight loss drugs.

What is the name of the new injection for weight loss?

The new weight loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) received FDA approval in November 2023. This medication was already available under the brand name Mounjaro to treat diabetes.

Unlike other weight loss injections (Saxenda and Wegovy), which are GLP-1 receptor agonists, Zepbound has a dual mechanism of action. It activates both glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors as well as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. It slows digestion, decreases appetite, helps you eat less food, and, thereby, helps you lose excess weight.

These medications work best when used with lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and exercise plan. Regular exercise also has a metabolism-boosting effect (it increases your resting metabolic rate), which can help you lose weight faster.

How much weight can you lose in a month with Ozempic?

Ozempic is not an FDA-approved weight loss medication. It contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as Wegovy, which is an FDA-approved weight loss injection. Therefore, you should take Wegovy for chronic weight management. Check out our blog to learn more about Ozempic for weight loss.

Ozempic and Wegovy are dosed differently. Wegovy contains a higher dose of semaglutide to help you lose weight. Learn more Wegovy’s uses and side effects.

Similarly, liraglutide is sold as Victoza for diabetes treatment and Saxenda for weight loss. Tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management.

How fast do you lose weight on weight loss injections?

Weight loss injections are not a magic bullet. They do not work immediately, and you need to eat healthy and participate in regular physical activity for these medications to help you lose weight.

Here are the weight loss results reported with the three weight loss injections:

Saxenda (liraglutide) weight loss results

60% of adults who took Saxenda achieved a weight loss of 5% or more from their baseline body weight (approximately 12 lbs) after 56 weeks.
33% achieved a weight loss of 10% or more (approximately 23 lbs).
6% achieved a weight loss of 20% or more (approximately 47 lbs).

Wegovy (semaglutide) weight loss results

On average, people who took Wegovy achieved a weight loss of 15% from their baseline body weight (approximately 35 lbs) after 68 weeks. (Find out how long it takes to lose weight on Wegovy)
30% of people achieved a weight loss of 20% or more (46 lbs). Learn about what happens when you stop taking Wegovy.

Zepbound (tirzepatide) weight loss results

On average, people who took Zepbound achieved a weight loss of 26% from their baseline body weight after 88 weeks.
72% of people achieved a weight loss of 20% or more.

Note: Clinical trials have shown the average weight loss that can be achieved with weight loss injections. However, your results may vary depending on factors such as diet and exercise, your basal metabolic rate, and your individual response to a drug.

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