Which GLP-1 works best? New meta-study puts them head-to-head

Healthcare Which GLP-1 works best? New meta-study puts them head-to-head Comments: by Alix Martichoux - 06/20/26 10:25 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Alix Martichoux - 06/20/26 10:25 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NEXSTAR) – A new study from the University of Georgia put popular GLP-1 medications head-to-head, testing which one is the most effective for weight loss.

The study compared three types of the medication: tirzepatide (better known under the brand names Zepbound and Mounjaro), semaglutide (sold as Wegovy and Ozempic), and liraglutide (aka Saxenda and Victoza).

The study looked at weight loss results in 14,000 non-diabetic patients. The findings of the meta-analysis were pretty clear, its authors say: tirzepatide takes the cake.

Tirzepatide is made by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly as two products, one for weight loss (Zepbound) and the other for diabetes (Mounjaro).

With Zepbound, patients lost more than 20% of their starting weight. With Wegovy (aka semaglutide), it was closer to 15% of body weight lost, and with liraglutide (or Saxenda) it was 8%.

All of the GLP-1 medications work in a similar way by mimicking a hormone that lowers blood sugar, slows digestion, and tricks the brain into thinking its fuller for longer. However, while Wegovy and Saxenda target just GLP-1 receptors, Zepbound is considered a dual agonist, meaning it targets GLP-1 receptors and the receptors for the hormone GIP.

“We were interested in finding which drug gives the most weight loss and doesn’t have higher rates of side effects like nausea and gastrointestinal problems,” said Pooja Gokhale, an author of the review and a Ph.D. student at the UGA College of Pharmacy. “Tirzepatide seems to be the better option.”

The best weight loss results, according to the meta analysis, were with the highest doses of tirzepatide.

The study didn’t look at what happened when patients stop taking the medication – though people are known to start regaining weight once they quit the drugs.

It also didn’t distinguish between the injectable version of the medications and the newer pill forms you can take orally. Clinical trials show the pills aren’t quite as effective as their injectable counterparts.

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