30/07/2026 19:47 - Salud
The accelerated increase in obesity rates has transformed this condition into the new epidemic of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has doubled in adults and quadrupled in adolescents since 1990, currently affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide.
Over the last decade, scientific innovation has centered its solutions on drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These injectable medications mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, producing satiety and regulating blood sugar. However, the new medical star is tirzepatide, a dual-action molecule that redefines intervention strategies.
Unlike traditional therapies, tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro, developed by the American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company and recently introduced in Latin America by the regional laboratory Adium) does not simply act as an appetite suppressant. Its dual action targets both weight reduction and the control of associated chronic diseases, acting as a true biological reprogrammer.
Key data from clinical studies mentioned by specialists consulted by Infobae show its efficacy:
Dr. Florencia Leinado, a family doctor and sports physician, warns that treatment success is not measured solely in lost kilos. The important thing is not only to lose weight, but to lose visceral fat while maintaining muscle mass, because anything that makes us lose muscle mass implies worsening our longevity, she explained.
Hopeful Fact: GLP-1 treatments decrease inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, insulin, glycated hemoglobin). Patients treated with tirzepatide retained a healthy proportion of lean mass, maintaining their organ of longevity and improving their physical function.
A study cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States maintains that a 12-week treatment with tirzepatide plus a low-calorie ketogenic therapy is more effective in preserving fat-free mass and muscle strength.
Dr. Leinado recommends this regimen to avoid muscle loss. According to Harvard Health, a 2,000-calorie ketogenic diet is composed approximately of:
| Component | Daily Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fats (healthy unsaturated and saturated) | 165 grams | Avocado, olive oil, nuts, butter, coconut |
| Carbohydrates | 40 grams | Very marked restriction |
| Proteins | 75 grams | Normal consumption, not high-protein |
Endocrinologist Juliana Mociulsky and gynecology specialist Pablo Carpintero propose a paradigm shift: obesity is a chronic and relapsing disease. Due to inherited biological mechanisms, the human body is not prepared to lose weight and activates hormonal responses to regain what was lost when interventions are suspended.
It is noted that 70% of people who stop taking GLP-1 drugs return to their original weight, but with a worse body composition (gaining fat and losing muscle). Furthermore, obesity installs an immunological footprint (imprinting) that persistently alters the immune response, so the earlier it is treated, the better the long-term prognosis.
Modern medicine provides us with increasingly precise tools. With professional support, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic innovations like the dual molecule, the expectation of a long and healthy life is today a more tangible reality than ever.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
