GLP-1 side effects on TikTok: what the studies actually say
Quick answer
Dr. Rosen compares tirzepatide and semaglutide primarily on mean weight loss percentages drawn from separate Phase 3 trials (SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1), applies those figures to his practice population, and extends the comparison to GI side effect tolerability, an area where direct head-to-head randomized data is limited. His claim that diabetic patients on semaglutide see only 2-5% weight loss conflicts with STEP 2 trial findings showing approximately 9.6% mean weight reduction in that population. The video's compound hashtag context raises additional questions about whether the trial data he cites translates to compounded formulations, which have different regulatory standing than the brand-name drugs studied.
Our take · Written by FormBlends editorial team · Reviewed by FormBlends Medical Team· This is not a transcript. It is our independent review of the video above.
What did @drdanielrosen actually say?
Dr. Rosen made three core arguments: tirzepatide outperforms semaglutide on weight loss ("22.5% of your total weight on tirzepatide versus 15%"), that diabetic patients see "paltry" results on semaglutide, and that tirzepatide carries a "lower side effect profile" with less bloating, gas, and what he memorably called "sulfur burps." He also said about 95% of his patients are on tirzepatide, which he framed as data-driven rather than pharma-influenced. The general direction of his argument is grounded in real clinical trial data, though he rounds some numbers conveniently and overstates certainty on the side effect comparison in ways that deserve scrutiny.
Does the science back this up?
Mostly, yes, but with important caveats. The weight loss numbers he cites are roughly consistent with published trial data, though he's comparing across different trials rather than head-to-head results. The SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff et al., 2022, NEJM) showed tirzepatide at the highest dose achieving mean weight reduction of about 22.5% in people with obesity. The STEP 1 trial (Wilding et al., 2021, NEJM) showed semaglutide 2.4mg achieving around 14.9% mean weight loss. So yes, those numbers are broadly accurate. The problem is these are different patient populations, different trial designs, and different timeframes. The SURPASS-CVOT and ongoing comparative research suggests tirzepatide does produce greater weight loss, but the magnitude can vary significantly by individual.
On the diabetic weight loss point, STEP 2 (Davies et al., 2021, Lancet) did show semaglutide producing roughly 9.6% weight loss in type 2 diabetics, not the 2-5% he implies. His numbers here are not well-supported.
On side effects, a direct head-to-head comparison is harder to find in the literature. There is no robust randomized trial comparing GI tolerability between the two drugs in the same population.
What did they get wrong (or right)?
He got the headline weight loss comparison directionally right. Tirzepatide, as a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, does appear to produce greater average weight loss than semaglutide across published trials. Credit where it is due.
But he meaningfully understated semaglutide's performance in diabetic patients. Saying they see "2%, 5%" weight loss on semaglutide doesn't reflect what the STEP 2 trial showed. It is possible he is describing his own patient population, but presenting anecdotal practice data alongside clinical trial figures without distinguishing between them is exactly how medical misinformation spreads on social media, even when the speaker has good intentions.
The side effect claim is the weakest part of his argument. Saying tirzepatide has a "lower side effect profile" as a general fact is not well-established in comparative literature. Jastreboff et al. (2022) reported nausea in about 30% of tirzepatide patients, and GI side effects were common across both drug classes. Individual tolerability varies enormously. Presenting this as a settled clinical conclusion overstates what the data actually shows.
What should you actually know?
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved medications with meaningful evidence bases. The choice between them is a clinical decision that depends on your specific health history, insurance coverage, and how your body responds, not a TikTok ranking system. Tirzepatide does appear to produce greater average weight loss in trials, but "average" hides a lot of individual variation. Some people do better on semaglutide. Some people tolerate one drug better than the other for reasons that are not fully understood.
If you are a type 2 diabetic considering either medication, the weight loss numbers for your group are meaningfully better than Dr. Rosen suggested for semaglutide. Talk to your prescriber using trial data, not social media averages.
One more thing: this video uses the hashtag "compound," which signals that compounded versions of these drugs may be in scope for his practice. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and are not equivalent to brand-name Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound. The trial data he cited was conducted on FDA-approved formulations. Applying those results to compounded versions is an assumption, not a fact.
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This page currently connects to 9 source-backed evidence items through visible references or structured citation data.
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For GLP-1 side effects on TikTok: what the studies actually say, FormBlends checks the page topic against primary trials, systematic reviews, guidelines, and current PubMed-indexed literature where available. These citations are context, not medical advice, proof of eligibility, or a claim that every study applies to every patient.
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
Primary STEP 1 trial source for semaglutide weight-management efficacy and adverse-event context.
PubMed
Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance
Used for maintenance, discontinuation, and weight-regain discussions after semaglutide response.
PubMed
Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity
Primary SURMOUNT-1 trial source for tirzepatide weight-loss ranges and tolerability.
PubMed
Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction
Used for continuation, stopping, and maintenance questions after initial weight loss.
PubMed
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FormBlends verdict
Dr. Rosen compares tirzepatide and semaglutide primarily on mean weight loss percentages drawn from separate Phase 3 trials (SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1), applies those figures to his practice population, and extends the comparison to GI side effect tolerability, an area where direct head-to-head randomized data is limited. His claim that diabetic patients on semaglutide see only 2-5% weight loss conflicts with STEP 2 trial findings showing approximately 9.6% mean weight reduction in that population. The video's compound hashtag context raises additional questions about whether the trial data he cites translates to compounded formulations, which have different regulatory standing than the brand-name drugs studied.
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What to do with this video
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What it helps with
- Dr. Rosen compares tirzepatide and semaglutide primarily on mean weight loss percentages drawn from separate Phase 3 trials (SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1), applies those figures to his practice population, and extends the comparison to GI side effect tolerability, an area where direct head-to-head randomized data is limited. His claim that diabetic patients on semaglutide see only 2-5% weight loss conflicts with STEP 2 trial findings showing approximately 9.6% mean weight reduction in that population. The video's compound hashtag context raises additional questions about whether the trial data he cites translates to compounded formulations, which have different regulatory standing than the brand-name drugs studied.
- SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff et al., 2022, NEJM) found tirzepatide at 15mg produced ~22.5% mean body weight reduction in adults with obesity over 72 weeks, consistent with Dr. Rosen's figure.
- STEP 1 (Wilding et al., 2021, NEJM) showed semaglutide 2.4mg produced ~14.9% mean weight loss, not 15% exactly, but close enough that his comparison is directionally fair.
What it may miss
- It may not cover eligibility, contraindications, medication interactions, lab history, or dose escalation.
- Compound access, legal status, and product quality still need a separate safety check.
- Social video captions rarely show the full evidence base behind a claim.
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Compare the claim against a FormBlends guide, safety page, and licensed-provider review before acting.
Start provider reviewWhat You'll Learn
- SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff et al., 2022, NEJM) found tirzepatide at 15mg produced ~22.5% mean body weight reduction in adults with obesity over 72 weeks, consistent with Dr. Rosen's figure.
- STEP 1 (Wilding et al., 2021, NEJM) showed semaglutide 2.4mg produced ~14.9% mean weight loss, not 15% exactly, but close enough that his comparison is directionally fair.
- STEP 2 (Davies et al., 2021, Lancet) showed semaglutide produced approximately 9.6% weight loss in type 2 diabetics, which directly contradicts his claim of 2-5% for that group.
- SURPASS-2 (Frías et al., 2021, NEJM) is the only major head-to-head trial comparing the two drugs, and it used semaglutide 1mg, not the 2.4mg weight-loss dose, making cross-drug comparisons more complicated than the video implies.
- No published randomized controlled trial has directly compared GI side effect rates between tirzepatide and semaglutide in the same patient population, so the tolerability ranking is based on inference, not direct evidence.
- Compounded versions of either drug are not FDA-approved and are not demonstrated to be equivalent to the branded formulations used in the trials cited here.
- Individual response to both drugs varies significantly; average trial results do not predict how any specific patient will respond to either medication.
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About the Creator
Dr. Daniel Rosen | MD, FACS · TikTok creator
56.3K views on this video
Leave your experiences on these meds in the comments! #glp1community #doctorsoftiktok #obesitymedicine #compound #glp1sideeffects #glp1
Sources & references
Citations extracted from our medical team's review. Click any citation to search PubMed.
Read More on This Topic
Our written guides go deeper with dosing details, comparison tables, and medical-team reviewed protocols.
Not medical advice. This video was made by Dr. Daniel Rosen | MD, FACS, not by FormBlends. Our write-up above is an editorial review, not a medical recommendation. Talk to your doctor before making any decisions about medications or treatments.