What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 114 patients with obesity. The study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was an early-stage trial — researchers are still confirming safety and getting an early look at how well the treatment works. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Tirzepatide reduced lunch intake by 525 calories compared to placebo after three weeks.
Nature medicine · 2025 · NCT04311411
These findings — that people ate over 500 fewer calories at lunch after three weeks on tirzepatide — were published in the Nature medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 114 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with obesity, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was an early-stage study and the treatment is not yet FDA-approved for this specific use. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, and a similar formulation (Zepbound) is approved for weight management. Ask your doctor whether tirzepatide might be right for you.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open obesity trials
Family Intervention to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Consumption of sweetened beverages, media-viewing, and physical activity patterns are often established during early childhood, and family-based obesity interventions show effectiveness in shaping healthy behaviors and weight outcomes for young children, including Latino children. Missing from these interventions, however, are methods to increase accessibility and dissemination to multiple family caregivers. The proposed work will use a randomized study design to evaluate the impact a family-based early childhood obesity intervention for Latino families that incorporates evidence-based strategies of in-person childhood obesity interventions, mobile phones, and leverages important determinants of Latino health (e.g. familism, language) in order to decrease ethnic disparities in childhood obesity and cardiovascular risk.
Diabetes Reversal Online Program and Study (DROP Study)
This is an interventional study that will evaluate the feasibility, implementation, and efficacy of an online, 12-week, plant-based, nutrition education program in a community setting. Data will also be analyzed to see if participation in the program results in reductions glycated hemoglobin levels, body weight, and cholesterol levels.