209. Diabetes drug found to lead to significant weight loss
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A new study shows that a once-a-week medication for diabetes helps people lose weight. In the study, published in the The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers tested the drug Tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro. Tirzepatide was recently approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes. Researchers studied over 2,500 overweight people without diabetes. Over the 72 weeks of the study, participants lost significant amounts of weight, with the group taking the largest dose losing an average of 52 pounds. Almost 40 percent of participants lost a quarter of their body weight. Side effects, including nausea, diarrhea and constipation, occurred in a small percentage of participants. While this new medication is contraindicated in people with certain thyroid conditions, it could soon be a useful treatment to help some people lose weight and improve their health.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
