Wegovy and Mounjaro should be first choice treatment for weight loss
Robert Price | Last update: 6th October 2025
For the first time prescription GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy have been recommended as the first-choice treatment for those living with obesity and related health issues
The experts at the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) have issued guidelines that are likely to change obesity care across Europe. The recommendations are for the GLP-1 treatments, using semaglutide and tirzepatide, that our SlimrChat community know so well.
Why are they recommending the treatments?
Well, we can hazard a good guess, can’t we? Put simply, it’s because these medications work exceptionally well. They “are so effective that they should be the first choice in almost all cases” say the team of experts. This was based on the trials of Mounjaro and Wegovy that have shown up to nearly 23% body weight loss over 72 weeks. The experts included Professor Barbara McGowan from Guy’s & St Thomas’s Hospital in London.
It’s about overall health
By focusing on overall health this guidance is a major shift in thinking. It’s not just the number on the scales. The framework of treatment that’s been laid out
considers specific obesity-related health complications when determining the best plan for each person.
What treatment for which issue?
The experts reviewed how these medications impact various health conditions:
- Heart health: semaglutide is recommended if you have cardiovascular disease, as it significantly reduces major cardiac events. For heart failure, both medications are recommended.
- Blood sugar: both tirzepatide and semaglutide are first-choice for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
- Knee pain (osteoarthritis): semaglutide is most effective for reducing pain.
- Sleep apnoea: tirzepatide is recommended first-line for obstructive sleep apnoea.
- Liver health: tirzepatide is currently recommended for MASH although recent data suggests semaglutide may be equally effective.
It’s personal
At SlimrChat we always recommend making sure your treatment is planned with your doctor or healthcare provider to make sure it’s in sync with your personal circumstances. Here’s our article on planning your weight loss journey.
These new recommendations, unsurprisingly, underline this vital point. These factors include your level of obesity, any existing health conditions, your personal goals and lifestyle.
These medications are “completely transforming care of obesity and its complications” says Dr. Andreea Ciudin, but treatment decisions still require personalised medical judgment.
Long-term picture
Those of us who have struggled with weight know, like these experts, that obesity is a serious condition that often needs a long-term approach for long-term success.
Maintaining weight loss after using weight loss drugs isn’t straightforward as we’ve highlighted here. It’s part of the reason we started SlimrChat: to help people through their whole weight loss journey by being an independent source of support.
EASO plans to update all these guidelines regularly as new evidence emerges. We’ll keep close to that for our community. In the meantime get involved in the chats in our forums to see what people like you are sharing about their weight loss journey.
The detail
If you want to read the detailed (very) EASO press information it’s here.