Retatrutide vs tirzepatide vs semaglutide — how do the weight-loss numbers actually compare?

GAGrace A.· 2 months ago

Research & educational use only. This content is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide compound.

people ask this every single day so here is the short version: sema was ~15% in STEP 1, tirz hit up to ~21% in SURMOUNT-1, and retatrutide's phase 2 numbers came in even higher. but these are three different trials with different people and lengths, so lining the percentages up is not a clean ranking.

reta is still phase 2 and not approved, sema + tirz are approved and tier 1. only a head-to-head would actually settle it. curious how everyone else reads the cross-trial thing.

3 Replies

DCDr. Sarah Chen researcher· Expert· 2 months ago

this is the right framing. people stack three percentages from three different trials and call it a ranking, but the populations and durations differ enough that only a direct head-to-head RCT would actually rank them. mono vs dual vs triple agonism is suggestive, not proof.

Accepted solution

MVMarcus Vale practitioner· Expert· 2 months ago

would add: for most goals the body-comp breakdown matters more than the raw number. same total loss with different lean-mass retention is not the same outcome.

GRGreg· Researcher· 2 months ago

saving this. exactly what I keep failing to explain to people in my gym.