August 23, 2025
Mounjaro, Wegovy & ADHD: Beyond Weight Loss, Mood and Longevity
More Than Weight Loss
The conversation around weight-loss injections like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) often focuses on kilograms lost. In clinical trials:
- Wegovy (STEP-1 trial, NEJM 2021): ~15% average body weight loss over 68 weeks.
- Mounjaro (SURMOUNT-1 trial, NEJM 2022): ~21% average weight loss at higher doses, with some patients in my own clinic losing over 30%.
But science — and real-world patient feedback in Sevenoaks — shows the benefits reach far beyond the scales.
Mood, Focus & ADHD-Like Benefits
Neuroinflammation & mood: Animal studies show semaglutide reduces brain inflammation, improving behaviour linked to anxiety and depression.
Large-scale human data: A 2023 study of nearly 30,000 patients found GLP-1 medicines were linked with fewer depressive symptoms, independent of weight loss.
Cognitive protection: Long-term cohort data suggest lower risks of dementia, stroke, and early death in people taking GLP-1s, likely via vascular and inflammatory improvements.
Real-world patient reports:
- Feeling calmer, more focused, less impulsive
- Reduced “food noise” and obsessive food thoughts
- Fewer late-night online purchases
- Less reliance on alcohol or smoking
Why? GLP-1 receptors are present in the brain’s dopamine reward pathways (van Bloemendaal et al., Diabetes Obes Metab, 2014). By modulating dopamine, these medicines may reduce cravings and impulsive behaviours — explaining why many patients feel more in control, not just around food but in everyday life.
Inflammation: The Hidden Driver
Obesity is the number one preventable cause of cancer in the UK (World Cancer Research Fund), largely because of chronic inflammation.
- Wegovy: A 2024 meta-analysis of >26,000 patients confirmed significant reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α).
- Mounjaro: Early data suggest even greater anti-inflammatory effects, thanks to its dual GLP-1/GIP mechanism, with reductions in CRP, IL-6, and improved vascular health.
Patients often describe this as “feeling lighter” — more energy, fewer aches, and greater resilience.
Lifestyle Ripple Effects
GLP-1 therapy can shift behaviour in surprising ways:
- Less alcohol and smoking: Early studies and real-world observations show patients cut back naturally, sometimes dramatically.
- Better sleep: Weight reduction and inflammation improvements help ease sleep apnoea. A 2024 tirzepatide trial showed up to 60% reduction in apnoea–hypopnoea index scores.
- Spending patterns: Many patients say treatment feels “cost-neutral” — they spend less on takeaways, alcohol, snacks, and even impulse shopping.
These changes reinforce long-term health gains and reduce reliance on medication over time.
Cardiovascular & Longevity Benefits
- Semaglutide: In the SELECT trial (2023), semaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, CV death) by 20% in overweight patients without diabetes.
- Tirzepatide: Early trial data suggest even stronger effects on blood sugar and metabolic control, with the SURPASS-CVOT outcomes trial underway.
Both drugs therefore sit at the intersection of weight management, longevity, and cardiovascular medicine.
Practical Comparison
| Benefit Area | Wegovy (Semaglutide) | Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | ~15% avg (STEP-1) | ~21% avg (SURMOUNT-1); some >30% |
| Mood & cognition | Evidence: fewer depression & anxiety symptoms | Anecdotal: calm, focus, impulse control |
| Inflammation | Reduces CRP, IL-6, TNF-α | Strong reductions in CRP, IL-6; dual action may be stronger |
| Cardiovascular | SELECT trial: ↓20% CV risk | Ongoing CVOT; early signals promising |
| Sleep | No major trial yet | 2024 trial: improved sleep apnoea |
| Off-label observations | Mood & neuroprotection | ADHD-style calm, less alcohol/smoking, cost-neutrality |
Off-Label Use & Safety Disclaimer
Some of the benefits described — ADHD-style calm, alcohol reduction, microdosing for inflammatory support — are off-label uses. These are only considered after a full medical consultation, where we discuss individual risks, benefits, and licensed alternatives for each patient.
Every treatment plan is bespoke and doctor-led, with careful monitoring to keep you safe.
Why This Matters for You
If you’re considering medical weight loss consultation in Sevenoaks, your decision is about more than body weight. These treatments can:
- Improve mental clarity and mood
- Reduce inflammation and cancer risk
- Support heart health and sleep
- Reinforce healthier lifestyle patterns
When delivered in a structured clinic setting, GLP-1 medicines become not just weight-loss tools, but part of longevity medicine.
📍 Dr Paulina Charlesworth – Medical Weight Loss & Aesthetic Medicine Clinic, Sevenoaks
📩 Email: hello@drcharlesworth.co.uk
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: 07960 777 456
💻 Book Online: B\ook your longevity medicine appointment
⚠️ Pre-ordering Mounjaro at current prices is available until 31st August 2025, subject to stock.