The short answer
Patient questionnaires suggest that physical well-being can improve during treatment. That is different from proving an improvement in every aspect of mental health or daily life.
Tirzepatide versus semaglutide
A SURMOUNT-5 analysis examined questionnaires during treatment over 72 weeks in adults without type 2 diabetes.
Physical-health summary scores improved in both groups. Mental-health summary scores did not show a statistically significant improvement in either group.
The general-health domain improved by 5.45 points with tirzepatide and 4.20 with semaglutide. These are changes on a questionnaire scale—not percentages of people who felt better.
Participants knew which medicine they received, which could influence their answers. Researchers tested multiple outcomes without adjusting the comparisons for multiple testing. The results do not establish a universal quality-of-life winner.
Themes; these studies answer different questions
SURMOUNT-5: treatment comparison
Physical-health scores improved in both groups
SURMOUNT-4: continue versus withdraw
Improvements generally maintained with continued treatment
Original visual based on the studies cited below.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-5: treatment comparison | Physical-health scores improved in both groups |
| SURMOUNT-4: continue versus withdraw | Improvements generally maintained with continued treatment |
Continuing versus stopping tirzepatide
SURMOUNT-4 asked a different question. After 36 weeks of tirzepatide, 670 participants who reached the tolerated target dose were randomized to continue or switch to placebo for another 52 weeks.
Questionnaire improvements were generally maintained with continued treatment. More weight regain after switching to placebo was associated with worsening questionnaire scores.
This was a selected group who tolerated initial treatment. These analyses also used unadjusted comparisons; some subgroup findings were descriptive.
The useful takeaway
Comfort, mobility and everyday activities are worth considering alongside weight. These studies support asking about those experiences, but their questionnaire results cannot promise how an individual will feel.
For digestive symptoms and treatment discontinuation, read our summaries of SURMOUNT-5 and SURMOUNT-4.
Sources
Shukla and colleagues, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2026.
Tirzepatide and quality of life in SURMOUNT-4, Obesity, 2025.
Both reports were supported by Eli Lilly.