Tirzepatide: Adults 65 and Older Lose Weight Like Younger Ones
Graded Moderate — a look back at seven randomized trials with 6,410 people; only 926 were 65 or older, and objective measures of strength and function were not collected.
- Design
- —
- Participants
- 6,410
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Eli Lilly and Company
People aged 65 and older lost about as much weight on tirzepatide as younger adults but quit more often due to side effects than on a dummy.
The weight-loss injection tirzepatide worked about as well in people aged 65 and older as in younger adults. Older users lost a similar share of their weight. Heart and metabolism measures and quality of life also changed in a similar way. The drug is injected once a week and mimics two gut hormones, one of them GLP-1. Until now, little data existed on older adults.
The researchers looked back at seven large trials. In each, people were chosen at random to get tirzepatide or a comparison. Most comparison groups got a dummy injection; one trial used the drug semaglutide. Of 6,410 participants, 926 were 65 or older. In one trial, older and younger people both lost almost 15 percent of their body weight on average.
Falls and broken bones were not noticeably more common among older users than on the dummy injection. Still, 13.0 percent of older users stopped treatment because of side effects, versus 6.8 percent on the dummy. Along with fat, people also lost muscle and other lean tissue. Strength and physical function were not checked with objective tests. Older adults were also a small minority in these trials.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Eli Lilly paid for the study, five authors work for the company, and others advise drug makers including Eli Lilly.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.