Liraglutide vs Tirzepatide: side-by-side comparison
Saxenda · Victoza
The original GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management, with 97% amino acid homology to human GLP-1. Less potent than semaglutide (~8% vs ~16% weight loss) and requires daily injection vs weekly, but now available as generic making it a more affordable option. Works through appetite suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and central satiety signals.
Mounjaro · Zepbound · LY3298176
A first-in-class dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist (sometimes called a "twincretin"). This 39-amino acid synthetic peptide activates both incretin receptors, producing superior weight loss and glycemic control compared to GLP-1-only agonists like semaglutide. The most effective FDA-approved pharmaceutical weight loss agent currently on the market (investigational triple agonists like retatrutide show larger effects in trials but are not yet approved).
3 / 10 natty scale / 3
Same lane
Both sit in the same class and are run for cutting, health. This is a like-for-like comparison: read the gaps as real trade-offs.
The tape
Core ratings
The same three rulers every entry on the site is scored with, read head to head.
Natty scale
1 natural · 10 heavy
Effectiveness
Documented effect · of 5Δ1.5
Side-effect severity
Documented burden · of 5
Cost side
Body-load fingerprint
Where each one actually lands its strain, on the calculator's thirteen channels. Tap a row for what it means and which labs track it.
Organ strain
Systemic
Injection & site care
Bars show strain at each one's typical protocol, not your dose. ≈ marks values inferred from side-effect data or category rather than hand-graded. For your numbers, run the calculator.
Logistics
The vitals
Benefit side
What each is for
Shared goals carry both dots; a goal with one dot belongs to that side alone.
Run for
Documented upside
- FDA-approved for weight management
- SCALE trials: 8.0% weight loss at 56 weeks
- 63% of users achieve >5% weight loss
- Visceral fat reduction 12.5-23%
- Generic now available (more affordable)
Run for
Documented upside
- Most effective FDA-approved weight loss medication available (up to ~21% body weight reduction, intention-to-treat, at the 15mg dose)
- Superior to semaglutide in head-to-head trials (SURMOUNT-5: 20.2% vs 13.7% weight loss at week 72, a ~6.5 percentage-point difference)
- Significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control
- Non-inferior to dulaglutide (another GLP-1 drug) for major cardiovascular events in the SURPASS-CVOT trial, with a favorable trend that did not reach statistical superiority
- Once-weekly dosing for convenience
The downsides
Side effects, aligned
Each entry's documented side effects, sorted onto the same body systems so the gaps and the overlaps are visible. Tap any effect for the detail.
None documented
None documented
None documented
None documented
The exit
Hormonal fallout & recovery
What each does to your own hormone axis while on, and what leaving it costs.
Liraglutide
Does not affect HPT axis. No PCT required. Weight regain is common after discontinuation - consider as long-term therapy.
Tirzepatide
Not hormone-based. No PCT required. However, weight regain is common after discontinuation - lifestyle modifications should be maintained.
Read-out
How they separate
- 01
Enhancement
They land at almost the same point on the natty scale (3/10 vs 3/10): a similar distance beyond natural.
- 02
Body load
The widest gap at typical protocols is heart structure (Tirzepatide 2.8/10 vs 0/10).
- 03
Coming off
Neither requires PCT: both leave the natural testosterone axis running.
- 04
Logistics
typical runs are 16-52 weeks vs 12-52 weeks.
Generated from each entry's data file. Descriptive, not a recommendation; nothing here is medical advice.