Wegovy vs Mounjaro: Next Animal-Free TikTok Weight Loss Trend

Obesity an increasing health concern

Figure 1. Obesity Effects On the Body (Healthline)

Today, many people are more obese than underweight in most regions of the world according to the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in March 2017, the United States had a prevalence of 41.9% for obesity. Obesity and being overweight can be defined as having abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that can cause health issues, with a body mass index (BMI) of over 25kg/m2 being considered overweight, and a BMI of over 30kg/m2 being considered obese. Obesity can cause health issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, depression, and even some cancers as shown in figure 1. from Healthline. The CDC also reported medical costs were $1,861 higher for adults with obesity compared to those at a healthy weight in the United States. People may have several reasons why they are having problems losing weight such as diet, physical activity, environmental factors, and even genetics.

Is there anything that can be done?

All is not lost and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. According to the CDC, about half of the US population (49.1%) have attempted to lose weight in the last 12 months, with about 45% struggling globally to lose weight. With the help of physical activity and diet, moderate weight loss can improve obesity-related health issues. When diet and physical activity are insufficient, the addition of prescription medications may be another option for those overweight or obese. There are many prescription drugs on the market today that are trying to combat obesity in adults such as Xenical, Qsymia, Contrave, Wegovy, and a new medication called Mounjaro that may soon be FDA approved for weight loss. Investigational studies for Mounjaro have been promising, showing an average weight loss of 15% after about 16.5 months of 5 mg/week treatment, 19.5% after 10 mg/week, and 20.9% after 15 mg/week. On the other hand, Wegovy is currently approved by the FDA for chronic weight management and has resulted in 15% weight loss after approximately 16 months of treatment.

Wegovy vs Mounjaro: Which product is tipping the scales?

​Characteristics	Wegovy	Mounjaro
Manufacturer	Novo Nordisk	Eli Lilly
Indication	Chronic weight management in addition to physical activity and calorie-reduced diet for adults who are overweight or obese	Helps control blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in addition to physical activity and diet
FDA approved for chronic weight management	YES	NO
Age requirement	Not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age	​Not known if safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age
​How does this drug work?	​Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist Increases glucose-dependent insulin secretion Decreases inappropriate glucagon secretion Helps delay gastric emptying, control appetite/food intake	​Dual acting glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and GLP-1 receptor agonist Increases glucose-dependent insulin secretion Decreases inappropriate glucagon secretion Helps delay gastric emptying, control appetite/food intake in adults with type 2 diabetes
Administration	​Inject subcutaneously once weekly on the same day, at any time, with or without food (rotate injection site with each injection). Start at 0.25 mg, increase every 4 weeks up to 2.4mg (adults and pediatrics) or 1.7mg (alternative for adults).	​Inject subcutaneously once weekly on the same day, at any time, with or without food (rotate injection site with each injection). Start at 2.5 mg, increase every 4 weeks up to 15mg.
​Dosage forms	​Prefilled single-use injection pen delivering doses of either 0.25mg/0.5mL, 0.5mg/0.5mL, 1mg/0.5mL, 1.7 mg/0.75mL, or 2.4mg/0.75mL	​Prefilled single-use injection pen delivering doses of either 2.5mg/0.5mL, 5mg/0.5mL, 7.5mg/0.5mL, 10mg/0.5mL, 12.5mg/0.5mL, or 15mg/0.5mL
Ingredients (Active & inactive)	​Active medicinal ingredient (all pens): Semaglutide Inactive agents: disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, water for injection. Hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust pH.	​Active medicinal ingredient: Tirzepatide Inactive agents: sodium chloride, sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate, and water for injection. Hydrochloric acid solution and/or sodium hydroxide solution may have been added to adjust the PH.
Side Effects	Common side effects (occurred in at least 10% of adult patients): Nausea, Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Stomach/GI discomfort Headache Fatigue Common side effects (occurred in at least 10% of pediatric patients): Nausea, Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Headache Abdominal pain Nasopharyngitis	​Common side effects (occurred in at least 10% of patients): Stomach/GI discomfort Nausea Diarrhea Decreased appetite
​Warnings (Talk to your doctor for further information)	​Serious warnings: Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasm Syndrome Type 2 (MEN 2) Acute pancreatitis Low glucose levels with concomitant use of insulin secretagogues or insulin Hypersensitivity reactions Acute kidney injury Severe gastrointestinal disease Diabetic retinopathy complications Acute gallbladder disease Heart rate increase Suicidal behavior and ideation Fetal harm (caution if breastfeeding)	​Serious warnings: Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasm Syndrome Type 2 (MEN 2) Acute pancreatitis Low glucose levels with concomitant use of insulin secretagogues or insulin Hypersensitivity reactions Acute kidney injury Severe gastrointestinal disease Diabetic retinopathy complications Acute gallbladder disease Heart rate increase Fetal harm (caution if breastfeeding)
Animal-free	YES	​LIKELY
Certified Animal-Free	NO	NO

Wegovy: Prescribing information

Moujaro: Prescribing information

Worth the Wait: How do Wegovy and Manjouro work?

After the weight loss tiktok trend that sold out much of Ozempic stock, Wegovy and Manjouro may be the next trendy weight-loss drugs. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that increases insulin, decreases glucagon, slows digestion, and affects appetite. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and GLP-1 agonist that increases insulin, decreases glucagon, and slows digestion. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are subcutaneous once-weekly injections that should be used in addition to physical activity and diet. One key difference for Wegovy is being FDA approved for the indication of chronic weight management while Mounjaro is only FDA approved for the indication of blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro’s popular SURMOUNT-1 trial looked specifically into weight loss and the treatment of obesity. According to the SURMONT-1 study, Mounjaro, at its highest dose (15mg/week), has shown a weight loss of 21% to 22.5%. FDA is currently reviewing the New Drug Application for Mounjaro. The chronic weight management indication is on the FDA fast track, and it is expected to be completed sometime in 2023. While both of these medications are promising, it is important to talk to your healthcare providers to see if this type of medication is right for you, what interactions may be present, and what side effects you should be concerned about.

Why Animal-free?

Research has shown that 32 million of the United States population may be at risk for fatalities due to food allergies and intolerances. Around 200,000 Americans end up needing emergency care due to food-related allergies. With More than 170 foods that can trigger a harmful immune response, food allergies are a serious medical condition that should not be overlooked. Out of the top food allergens such as shellfish, milk, egg, and fish, shellfish currently leads the list with roughly 8.2 million Americans having a shellfish food allergy. The CDC reports that medical incidents to treat these food allergies have increased by 380% between 2007 and 2016. There is no known cure for food allergies and thus they are managed by carefully avoiding specific problem ingredients. Caution is needed as allergens are hidden in our daily foods, drinks, cosmetics, medications, and supplements.

Along with food-related allergies, there are many other important reasons a person might want to live an animal-free lifestyle. Not limited to:

• Dietary restrictions

• Religion/Personal beliefs

• Animal-cruelty/A kinder world

• Climate change

• Environmental Impact

We at VeganMed are excited to share that Wegovy is verified animal-free and Mounjaro is likely animal-free.

Vegan Lifestyle

At VeganMed we diligently work for our consumers to have the resources necessary to live a clean, healthy, and safe animal-free lifestyle. We do this by speaking with companies about their products and providing the latest information to our consumers to increase transparency and allow individuals to make informed decisions about what they consume. Furthermore, we offer animal-free over-the-counter (OTC) options on our online shop, a list of common animal-derived ingredients, and animal-free certifications.

FDA-approved weight loss medications

Wegovy and Mounjaro are to be used as adjunct therapy to physical activity and diet. Wegovy is verified animal-free and FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Mounjaro is likely animal-free and is promisingly awaiting FDA approval for chronic weight management. If interested, talk to your healthcare provider first for more information as weight loss medications are not suitable for all patients.

Co-authored by: Gurpal Khatra

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Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.

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