People who stop taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and other weight loss medications are projected to regain the lost weight within approximately 18 months, according to research. The paper, which reviews existing studies, also indicates that former users regain weight four times more quickly than those who lost weight through behavioural methods like dieting and exercise.
Research Findings on Weight Regain
Millions of individuals use GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. These medications work by reducing food cravings, slowing digestion and prolonging the feeling of fullness. However, a paper published in the British Medical Journal in January, which analysed 37 earlier studies involving 9,000 people, concluded that stopping weight management medications leads to rapid weight regain and a reversal of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers. The study added that regain after medication was faster than after behavioural weight management programmes, suggesting caution in short-term use without a comprehensive approach to weight management.
Understanding GLP-1 Drugs
GLP-1 drugs contain active ingredients like semaglutide, originally used to manage Type 2 diabetes and now also prescribed for weight management. Obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition affecting nearly two billion adults worldwide, increasing the risk of illness and premature death. The BMJ researchers noted that weight loss improves cardiovascular risk factors, and a recent trial showed that continuous use of semaglutide over four years reduced major cardiovascular events in individuals with existing heart disease.
Impact of Stopping Treatment
However, the benefits of weight loss on diabetes and other cardiovascular risk markers diminish when weight is regained after treatment stops. The researchers stated that weight regain occurs at a rate of 0.8 kg per month, with a projected return to baseline weight 1.5 years after cessation. This implies that cardiovascular health benefits likely attenuate more rapidly. Because obesity is a chronic condition, prolonged treatment may be necessary to sustain health benefits. The review concluded that weight management medications are associated with weight reduction and cardiometabolic improvements that fade soon after treatment ends, with no evidence of benefit 1.7 years after stopping.
Further Research
A second study published last month by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that when individuals stopped taking the medication, they experienced rapid initial weight regain. By 52 weeks, participants had regained 60% of their original weight loss. Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, explained: 'Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite, making us feel full sooner, which means we eat less and therefore lose weight. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brake, and this can lead to rapid weight regain.'
The Cambridge researchers suggested that some users do not return to their original weight even a year after stopping because the drugs may help develop healthier eating habits, such as reduced portion sizes or more balanced meals, which may persist after treatment ends. Steven Luo, also a medical student, emphasised: 'When stopping weight loss drugs, doctors and patients should be aware of the potential for weight regain and consider ways to mitigate this risk. It's important that people are given advice on improving their diet and exercise, rather than relying solely on the drugs, as this may help them maintain good habits when they stop taking them.'
Industry Response
In response to the BMJ report, Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Wegovy and Ozempic, told the BBC: 'These findings highlight the chronic nature of obesity and suggest that ongoing treatment is necessary to maintain improvements in weight and overall health for patients, similar to the management of other chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.'
