Comparative Efficacy of Tirzepatide Versus Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Head-to-Head Studies
- Design
- Meta-analysis · 381 participants · Intermediate outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Different population[Auto] Synthesis of studies conducted predominantly in people with obesity/overweight.
- Could weight loss explain it?
- Possibly[Auto] Participants had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and the abstract does not separate direct drug effects from weight loss or glycaemic improvement.
- Study tier
- Study tier 2[Auto] Systematic review/meta-analysis of randomized trials (auto-provisional; heterogeneity and included-study quality not assessed).
- Assessment
- Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 13, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
[Auto, unreviewed; last sentences of abstract] Overall and gastrointestinal adverse events were similar between groups. Tirzepatide was associated with greater weight reduction, greater glycaemic benefit and a higher likelihood of achieving weight-loss thresholds than semaglutide, but with a higher risk of serious adverse events.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Semaglutide, Tirzepatide
- Comparator
- Semaglutide
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 24 weeks of follow-up
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Obesity status
- obesity/overweight present (all or most)
- Diabetes status
- diabetes mentioned
- Sample size
- 381
Study quality details
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Sample size
- 381
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- 24 weeks of follow-up
- Outcome type
- intermediate
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- CI reported: 95% CI -5
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide versus semaglutide for weight reduction in adults with overweight or obesity. We included randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide with ≥ 24 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome was percentage weight change from baseline. Secondary outcomes included absolute weight change, weight-loss thresholds, HbA1c and safety outcomes. Ten studies including 41 381 participants were analysed. Tirzepatide was associated with greater percentage weight reduction than semaglutide (MD -4.28 percentage points; 95% CI -5.28 to -3.28; p < 0.00001) and greater absolute weight loss (MD -4.43 kg; 95% CI -5.56 to -3.30; p < 0.00001). Tirzepatide was also associated with a higher likelihood of achieving ≥ 10%, ≥ 15% and ≥ 20% weight loss, with no difference at ≥ 5%. HbA1c reduction was greater with tirzepatide (MD -0.29%; p = 0.0002). Subgroup analyses by study design and type 2 diabetes status yielded consistent findings. There was no significant difference in treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (RR 1.28; p = 0.54), whereas serious adverse events were more frequent with tirzepatide (RR 1.83; p = 0.007). Overall and gastrointestinal adverse events were similar between groups. Tirzepatide was associated with greater weight reduction, greater glycaemic benefit and a higher likelihood of achieving weight-loss thresholds than semaglutide, but with a higher risk of serious adverse events.
Where this record came from
| Source | Retrieved | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| pubmed | Sep 13, 2026 | 42670242 first ingestion |