Meet Mounjaro, Ozempic’s bougier sister

It's safe to say that Ozempic changed the way an entire generation of celebrities, influencers and the rich and the wealthy approached wellness. Now, meet it's sister, Mounjaro; which is an alternative to semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Mounjaro is a tirzepatide, which is believed to be more effective in helping people lose weight as compared to others. It is an injection meant to help people with diabetes but can also aid in weight loss. “Many users report losing 15–20% of their body weight, which is substantial,” shares Payal Kothari, a gut-health nutritionist and author.

How does it work?

"Mounjaro tricks your body into eating less sugar and stabilises sugar levels which leads to fat loss,” explains Kothari. “It mimics two hormones—GLP-1 and GIP—which slows down gastric emptying that helps you feel fuller for long periods of time, reduces appetite and cravings, helps regulate blood sugar and supports insulin sensitivity.”

In addition to this, other benefits of tirzepatide are lower blood pressure, lower inflammation and a reduced risk of heart and liver disease. “Metabolic resistance, obesity, or emotional eating patterns – medications like Mounjaro can act as a temporary bridge,” adds Kothari. After Ozempic’s craze, Mounjaro is turning out to be the next transformative drug for weight loss, by speeding the processes. But just like Ozempic and other drugs, Mounjaro doesn't come without its side effects.

"It could lead to loss of lean mass if not paired with protein and exercise. It could also impact the gut’s microbiome over time.”

While some side effects, such as nausea, constipation, bloating, reflux, and diarrhoea, have been observed, the recency of the drug means there is a vagueness about its safety after long-term usage. The chances of developing a psychological dependency are high as well due to weight loss generally being strongly connected with a person's self-image.

Is it healthy to take drugs without needing them?

According to Kothari, weight loss should ideally be a by-product of healing your internal systems—especially the gut, hormones, and mind. If Mounjaro is used without repairing one's gut or relationship with food, the weight might pile back on.

While there is one faction on the internet that believes it's best to leave the drugs for those who need them, others believe it's not a major concern if they are used for purposes other than originally intended for. This makes it a personal choice for most.

Will being skinny still be perceived as a beauty standard if everyone is skinny?

Some may argue that using this drug to lose weight may be for health concerns but the added aesthetic value is what appeals the most. Beauty trends and health fads keep changing every few months, if not weeks. Just a decade ago, curvy was the new goal; now skinny is back in.

The past few decades were a strong precedent when it came to choosing an ideal body type. The 90s were big on skinny with their supermodel era. The 2000s were obsessed with anorexic-core and rampant body-shaming culture. But Marilyn Monroe’s status as the blonde bombshell is a reminder that the 50s and 60s were big on curviness. A number of socio-political reasons, such as wars, were responsible for this.

After coming out of world wars and economic depressions, curvy was the goal. But by the time the 70s rolled in with its hippie influence, tall and lean was the new standard.

So if a couple of injections can revolutionise the fitness industry, will we still want to be skinny?