Tirzepatide with Virtual Health Support Achieves 23% Weight Loss at One Year in 1,166 Patients | Research

The takeaway

Patients on tirzepatide with individualized virtual medical support lost an average of 52 pounds (23% body weight) at 52 weeks, with 99% losing at least 5% of body weight.

99% hit 5% target
Nearly every patient achieved clinically meaningful weight loss, with 64% losing over 20% of body weight at one year

What the researchers found

At 52 weeks, mean weight loss was 52.28 lbs (22.74%), with 99.36% achieving ≥5% TBWL, 97.12% ≥10%, 84.66% ≥15%, 64.22% ≥20%, and 41.21% ≥25%. At 72 weeks, mean loss was 62.79 lbs (26.54%).

Why it matters

These real-world results exceed most clinical trial outcomes for tirzepatide, suggesting that individualized virtual support and dose titration can maximize GLP-1 drug effectiveness.

How the study worked

Retrospective analysis of 1,166 patients (BMI ≥30) completing ≥52 weeks on tirzepatide with IVIM telehealth protocol, including board-certified obesity medicine oversight.

What this study cannot tell us

Retrospective design. No control group. Includes both branded and compounded tirzepatide. Patients who completed 52 weeks are self-selected (completers analysis). IVIM program may attract more motivated patients.

How to read the evidence

Large real-world cohort study but retrospective with no control group and completers analysis. Impressive results that may reflect selection bias.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Demonstrates that GLP-1 drug outcomes depend heavily on clinical support infrastructure. Virtual care models may be key to maximizing the potential of peptide-based obesity treatments at scale.

Questions still open

How do outcomes compare for patients who discontinued before 52 weeks?
Is the IVIM support model scalable to large healthcare systems?
Do branded and compounded tirzepatide produce equivalent outcomes?

Common questions

How much weight can you really lose on tirzepatide?

In this study of 1,166 patients with medical support, the average was 52 pounds (23%) at one year. Nearly all patients lost meaningful weight, and 64% lost over 20% of their body weight.

Does having medical support matter?

This study suggests yes — the combination of tirzepatide with individualized physician support and regular access to care produced results exceeding most clinical trial outcomes for the drug alone.

Read the original research

Weight reduction and treatment adherence with tirzepatide using the Individualized Virtual Integrative Medicine (IVIM) protocol.

Obesity pillars, 17, 100236

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Duncan, Jessica; Stevens, Patrick Lee; Bigby, Emily; Floyd, Courtney; Malina, Josh; Nickens, Jennifer; Lambert, Amber; Kantor, Taylor. (2026). Weight reduction and treatment adherence with tirzepatide using the Individualized Virtual Integrative Medicine (IVIM) protocol.. Obesity pillars, 17, 100236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100236