Jump to: What is chronic fatigue? | What is Mounjaro? | Why take Mounjaro if you have chronic fatigue? | Take home message
You can take Mounjaro (tirzepatide) if you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and your BMI is over 30. Research suggests weight loss may help improve some fatigue symptoms, particularly in people living with both obesity and chronic fatigue.
Research suggests a link between obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and increased fatigue levels. This will be due to many factors, such as increased inflammation, low levels of cardiovascular fitness, and insulin resistance.
However, no studies have directly investigated how Mounjaro affects chronic fatigue symptoms.
The potential benefits of Mounjaro for people living with CFS will be based on our understanding of how excess weight can impact fatigue and how weight loss might help improve energy levels.
There’s limited research on the impact of weight loss on people living with CFS, but it’s generally recommended that weight loss be approached gradually and sustainably.
At Second Nature, we recommend a sustainable weight loss rate of around 1-2lbs per week to avoid the potential adverse effects of rapid weight loss, which can include fatigue and tiredness.
For people with chronic fatigue who take Mounjaro, it’s recommended that you:
- Work closely with your healthcare team
- Monitor your energy levels and symptoms
- Make gradual lifestyle changes over time
- Focus on a diet based on whole foods rich in protein and vegetables
On Second Nature, you’d have access to a registered dietitian or nutritionist who’d help you gradually build healthy habits that would help manage CFS and support weight loss while on Mounjaro.
What is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a complex condition characterised by severe, persistent fatigue that significantly impacts daily activities.
This fatigue doesn’t improve with rest and can worsen with physical or mental activity. The condition often includes symptoms like:
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Cognitive difficulties (‘brain fog’)
- Muscle pain
- Post-exertional malaise
Research suggests that people living with both obesity and chronic fatigue often experience more severe symptoms and difficulties with physical function.
The relationship between weight and chronic fatigue is complex. Some people with chronic fatigue may gain weight due to reduced activity levels or changes in appetite.
Fatigue vs CFS
Fatigue associated with obesity and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are distinct conditions.
Obesity-related fatigue is often linked to excess body weight, metabolic factors, and inflammation. It may improve with weight loss and building healthy habits like eating a diet based on whole foods.
It’s frequently accompanied by daytime sleepiness and can be exacerbated by sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
In contrast, CFS is characterised by severe, persistent fatigue lasting at least 6 months, which is not relieved by rest and worsens with exertion.
CFS involves complex, not fully understood mechanisms potentially affecting neurological, immune, and endocrine systems and is accompanied by specific symptoms like post-exertional malaise and cognitive impairment.
The key differences lie in the duration, onset, response to rest, and associated symptoms.
While obesity-related fatigue may develop gradually and improve with rest, CFS often has a sudden onset and doesn’t respond to rest.
CFS also features unique symptoms like post-exertional malaise and cognitive issues not typically seen in obesity-related fatigue.
It’s important to note that while obesity and CFS can coexist and obesity may worsen CFS symptoms, obesity itself doesn’t cause CFS.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a dual-action weight-loss injection. It supports weight loss by mimicking two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, that communicate with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to lower hunger and food-seeking behaviour.
By lowering hunger and our desire to eat, Mounjaro helps us eat fewer calories to achieve a calorie deficit.
A calorie deficit occurs when we consume fewer calories than our body needs to fuel its essential functions, such as digestion, blood flow, and brain function.
By creating a calorie deficit, our bodies will ‘burn’ the excess fat stored for energy, and we’ll lose weight.
Mounjaro also slows down the rate at which we digest food so that our stomach and gut send signals to the brain to signal the feeling of fullness.
So, Mounjaro supports weight loss by making us feel less hungry through two mechanisms:
1. Communicating with the brain’s appetite control centre
2. Slowing the rate that food is digested
Randomised controlled trials have shown that Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26% after one year.
Why take Mounjaro if you have chronic fatigue syndrome?
Research suggests that obesity can worsen chronic fatigue symptoms through several mechanisms:
- Increased inflammation throughout the body
- Greater strain on energy systems and low cardiovascular fitness
- Reduced physical function
- Disrupted sleep patterns
Losing weight on Mounjaro could potentially help by:
- Reducing inflammation
- Decreasing physical strain during daily activities
- Improved blood sugar control
- Supporting better sleep quality
The medication’s ability to regulate appetite might be particularly beneficial for people with chronic fatigue who struggle with emotional eating or irregular eating patterns due to fatigue symptoms.
However, it’s crucial to approach weight loss gradually and work with your healthcare team to ensure any changes support rather than worsen your chronic fatigue symptoms.
Losing weight too quickly or making drastic lifestyle changes all at once could worsen CFS symptoms and impact your health in the long term.
Take home message
While no direct research exists on Mounjaro’s effects on chronic fatigue, the medication could help manage some aspects of the condition through weight loss and improved blood sugar control.
Success depends on working closely with your healthcare team to monitor your chronic fatigue symptoms and your response to the medication.
Weight loss is just one aspect of managing chronic fatigue, and a comprehensive approach, including proper rest, nutrition, and sleep, remains essential.
Second Nature’s medication programme
Second Nature currently provides Mounjaro as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Mounjaro weight-loss programme is private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
Please note: We generally recommend speaking with your GP/doctor before you start taking any new medication like Mounjaro. If you do sign up for Second Nature's Mounjaro programme, then we'll also send your GP a letter to let them know you've started a medication-supported weight-loss journey.
