The Role Of Hormones In Weight Gain: Understanding PCOS And Menopause
Kim Phelps
|
Nov 29, 2023
Everything you need to know about the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and menopause on weight management.
Choosing a weight loss treatment might feel overwhelming. There are now multiple branded and generic GLP-1 medications available, with varying benefits, results, prices and side effects. Here we'll break down the differences between two popular treatments – Wegovy and Mounjaro – to help you understand which might be the right choice for you.
Before we deep dive into each medication, let’s first understand what they are. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are weight loss injections. Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Mounjaro is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. They work by mimicking the action of the GLP-1 hormone, which the body naturally releases when we eat. It triggers the production of insulin to regulate and reduce blood sugar, which is why some GLP-1s were originally prescribed as diabetes treatments. GLP-1s also delay gastric emptying – making you feel fuller for longer – as well as suppressing appetite and improving satiety. [1] [2]
Wegovy is a weight loss drug that uses semaglutide as its active ingredient. Unlike many of the other GLP-1s that began as diabetes treatments, Wegovy has been licensed as a dedicated weight loss medication by the FDA for a number of years. While semaglutide is also used in other treatments like Ozempic, Wegovy can be prescribed at higher doses.
Mounjaro is a potent weight loss medication containing the active ingredient tirzepatide. What makes tirzepatide – and Mounjaro – unique is that it’s a dual agonist meaning it works as both a GLP-1 and GIP sequence agonist – nicknamed a "twincretin’. [3] So while it works in the same way as Wegovy to trigger insulin release , enhancing blood sugar level and appetite regulation – the GIP activity has been shown to increase levels of Adiponectin, a protein known to regulate glucose levels, enhance fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity as a mechanism to increase weight loss. [4]
Both clinically-proven weight loss solutions, Wegovy and Mounjaro have many similarities. They are both GLP-1s – working on the gut and brain to control appetite to make you feel fuller for longer. Both are injected using a pre-filled pen weekly, and both are FDA approved for weight loss. And crucially, both are available here at Levity.
There are also a number of differences between the two weekly injections.
As mentioned earlier, Wegovy and Mounjaro use different active ingredients. Mounjaro benefits from the dual action of GLP-1 and GIP – which is thought to be particularly beneficial for losing weight and keeping it off, while Wegovy is solely a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Both treatments have demonstrated impressive effectiveness in clinical trials to aid weight loss. Wegovy has shown potential to achieve a reduction of up to 15% of body weight over a year. While Mounjaro has shown in clinical studies to help reduce body weight by up to 20% over a year on the highest dose.
Both medications may trigger similar mild and moderate adverse effects like nausea. We recommend you read the full Wegovy and Mounjaro side effects before considering starting treatment – and informing our clinical team of any existing health conditions.
There is also a difference in the price of each treatment, which may be a consideration when choosing which is the right one for you. Here at Levity, Wegovy costs $1,599 every four weeks and Mounjaro is $1,299 every four weeks. It’s worth noting that when you choose us as your weight loss partner, your initial consultation, prescription, medication, delivery and ongoing clinical support and health coaching is all included in that price.
It’s now also possible to get compounded weight loss medications too. These drugs use the same active ingredients and act in the body in the same way as Wegovy, but are created by state-licensed pharmacies like Levity. Ours uses the active ingredient semaglutide to offer customers a weight loss drug that is readily available. Here at Levity, our Compounded Semaglutide comes in a vial and is self-administered using a syringe, rather than a pre-filled pen.
When you have your free consultation with Levity, you’ll answer a short questionnaire (which includes medical history) to determine your eligibility for weight loss treatment. Our clinical team will then recommend the right one(s) for you to then choose from.
You can start your weight loss journey with Mounjaro, Wegovy, Compounded Semaglutide or any number of our treatments available here.
1. Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/
2. Latif W, Lambrinos KJ, Rodriguez R. Compare And Contrast the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP1RAs) [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572151/
3. Dutta P, Kumar Y, Babu AT, Giri Ravindran S, Salam A, Rai B, et al. Tirzepatide: A Promising Drug for Type 2 Diabetes and Beyond. Cureus [Internet]. 2023 May 1;15(5):e38379. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10231274/
4. Nguyen TMD. Adiponectin: Role in Physiology and Pathophysiology. International Journal of Preventive Medicine [Internet]. 2020 Sep 3;11. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554603
.png)
Everything you need to know about the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and menopause on weight management.
.png)
Lifestyle changes are an important part of any weight loss journey, but they shouldn’t impact your wellbeing. Here’s our healthy approach to losing weight.
Discover delicious mid-week meal ideas for healthy weight loss, perfect if you’re looking to incorporate plenty of protein and fiber into your meal without it feeling too heavy.