Tirzepatide and Semaglutide in the treatment of obesity: efficacy, safety, and metabolic impacts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v9i20.3469Keywords:
Obesity, Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, Weight Loss, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, Metabolic HealthAbstract
Obesity is one of the major chronic diseases affecting global public health and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. In this context, the present integrative review aimed to analyze the efficacy, safety, and metabolic impacts of tirzepatide and semaglutide in the treatment of obesity in adults. The study was conducted using the PubMed database and included publications from 2020 to 2026, of which ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings demonstrated that both medications promote significant weight reduction, improved glycemic control, and important cardiometabolic benefits. Semaglutide showed an average body weight reduction of 14.9%, whereas tirzepatide achieved weight losses of up to 20.9%, indicating greater effectiveness in weight reduction. Furthermore, improvements were observed in insulin sensitivity, reduction of visceral fat, decreased cardiovascular risk, and prevention of progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus. The main adverse events reported were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which were generally classified as mild to moderate. It is concluded that semaglutide and tirzepatide represent important advances in the pharmacological treatment of obesity, with tirzepatide standing out for its superior outcomes in weight loss and metabolic parameters. However, further long-term studies are needed to evaluate the sustainability of the results and the safety of these therapies in different populations.
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