Recent research reveals that individuals discontinuing GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy can expect to regain the weight they lost within approximately 18 months. An analysis of 37 previous studies involving 9,000 participants, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), highlights that weight rebound after stopping these drugs happens much faster than after behavioural weight loss methods like diet and exercise.
GLP-1 medications, originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, have become widely used for weight management by suppressing appetite, slowing digestion, and prolonging feelings of fullness. However, the BMJ study emphasizes that the benefits of these drugs on weight and cardiometabolic health are reversed quickly once treatment ends. The research found that weight regain occurs at a rate of about 0.8 kg per month, with a return to baseline weight expected around 1.5 years after stopping the medication.
Obesity, a chronic and relapsing condition affecting nearly two billion adults globally, carries significant health risks including cardiovascular disease. While weight loss through GLP-1 drugs improves cardiovascular risk factors, these advantages diminish as weight returns after medication cessation. The study calls for caution concerning short-term use of weight management medications without a longer-term strategy.
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The researchers stress that sustained treatment may be necessary to maintain both weight loss and its associated health benefits. They also recommend further investigation into cost-effective long-term weight control strategies and reinforce the importance of preventing obesity.
The medications studied include semaglutide (found in Ozempic and Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and liraglutide (Saxenda), among others. A complementary study from the University of Cambridge echoed these findings, reporting that by one year after stopping such drugs, patients regained approximately 60% of their lost weight.
Medical students involved in the Cambridge study explain that stopping GLP-1 drugs is like “taking your foot off the brake,” leading to increased appetite and rapid weight gain. However, some patients maintain healthier eating habits developed during treatment, which may slow weight regain. Experts emphasize the importance of pairing medication with lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise, to support sustainable weight management.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, responded by acknowledging obesity as a chronic condition requiring ongoing treatment similar to diabetes or hypertension, to sustain health improvements.