Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic, these weight-loss drugs have quickly become household names. Marketed as ‘shortcuts’ to losing weight, they are seeing strong demand, with people spending thousands of rupees on them. But do they really work? For some users, only HbA1c (blood sugar levels) has improved; for others, only weight has dropped and, in some cases, neither has changed significantly. Emerging research suggests that genes may play a major role in determining these outcomes.
Each person's physical structure and condition is not the same. So, the drug may not work the same way on everyone. Many people complain that despite taking injections, these drugs are not working. The reason lies hidden in genes. A new study published in Nature journal states that the effectiveness of these drugs also depends on genes.
Researchers from the non-profit organization 23andMe Research Institute have found that those who have a variant of a specific gene in their body have lost more weight compared to others. Those who did not have this gene in their body lost an average of 0.76 kg more weight in 8 months.
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On the other hand, individuals who had two copies of this gene in their body lost almost 1.5 kg more. Again, having this special gene also causes side effects in the body. Particularly when taking the tirzepatide drug, problems like nausea or dizziness occur.
American researchers analyzed the DNA of approximately 28,000 people. Each of them was using these weight loss drugs. These drugs work like the body's natural hormones, which control appetite and metabolism. Semaglutide (found in Ozempic, Wegovy) works like a hormone called GLP-1. On the other hand, Tirzepatide (found in Mounjaro) works like both GLP-1 and GIP hormones.
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The study says that individuals taking semaglutide lost an average of 10% weight. But in some cases, this rate was more than 25%. Again, in some cases, almost no change was observed. Genes also play a role behind this.
The role of these genes is also immense in the case of Indians. Previous studies have shown that having FTO and VDR genes in the body and trying to lose weight through diet yields good results. Another study from 2025 revealed that a gene called Neurobeachin also gives excellent results in GLP-1 based therapy. So in the future, it may be possible to understand from genes which drug will work for whom. Therefore, even spending thousands of rupees on weight loss drugs may not guarantee hundred percent results.
