---
title: "SURMOUNT-5: Tirzepatide Outperforms Semaglutide in Head-to-Head Phase 3b Obesity RCT (SURMOUNT-5 Audit) | Nutrition Research Labs"
source_url: "https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/surmount-5-tirzepatide-vs-semaglutide-head-to-head-trial"
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description: "Clinical audit of SURMOUNT-5 (PMID: 39652114, 751 adults with obesity (BMI >=30 or >=27 with weight-related comorbidity)): Mean body weight reduction of -20.2%"
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> **Canonical Source:** [https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/surmount-5-tirzepatide-vs-semaglutide-head-to-head-trial](https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/surmount-5-tirzepatide-vs-semaglutide-head-to-head-trial)
>
> *Clinical audit of SURMOUNT-5 (PMID: 39652114, 751 adults with obesity (BMI >=30 or >=27 with weight-related comorbidity)): Mean body weight reduction of -20.2%*

## Media Hype vs. Absolute Clinical Reality (Information Gain Audit)

- **Viral Headline Claim:**
- **True Placebo-Adjusted Absolute Outcome:** Mean body weight reduction of -20.2% (-22.8 kg) with tirzepatide 15mg once weekly versus -13.7% (-15.0 kg) with semaglutide 2.4mg once weekly at week 72.
- **Relative vs. Absolute Statistical Breakdown:** While marketing headlines proclaimed that tirzepatide delivered
- **Funding & Sponsor Audit:** Eli Lilly and Company (Industry Sponsored (Audited))
- **Human Equivalent Dosing Protocol:** Subcutaneous injection once weekly, titrated from 2.5mg every 4 weeks up to 15mg maximum tolerated dose.

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---

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