Weight Loss Jab Users May Avoid Rebound Gain With Lifestyle Changes, Study Finds
A significant real-world study has discovered that discontinuing weight loss medications such as Ozempic or Mounjaro may not necessarily trigger the severe rebound weight gain that was previously anticipated. This finding challenges earlier concerns that halting these fat-busting drugs, known as GLP-1s and used by approximately 1.6 million Britons, would cause individuals to rapidly regain all lost pounds.
New Research Challenges Previous Fears
Earlier this year, data published in the British Medical Journal suggested that people could regain their entire lost weight within 18 months of stopping the jabs, sparking widespread anxiety among users. However, a new study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism indicates that this outcome is not inevitable.
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic conducted an analysis of around 8,000 patients who had discontinued semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, and tirzepatide, commonly known as Mounjaro or Zepbound. In a key development, the team found that patients were able to maintain a stable weight up to a year later through lifestyle modifications or alternative therapeutic approaches.
Study Details and Patient Outcomes
The study focused on adults in Ohio and Florida who had obesity or type 2 diabetes and had been using the medication for three to 12 months before cessation. Those using the jabs for obesity lost an average of 8.4 percent of their body weight prior to stopping and only regained an average of 0.5 percent afterward.
Patients using the medication to treat type 2 diabetes even continued to lose weight after discontinuing the jabs, shedding an additional 1.3 percent following an initial 4.4 percent reduction. Many participants adopted lifestyle changes after stopping the medication, including nutritional counselling visits, meetings with exercise physiologists, and attendance at medical appointments focused on weight management.
Alternative Treatments and Patient Persistence
More than 35 percent of the participants received alternative obesity treatments, with 27 percent starting another medication. Approximately 20 percent also returned to their original medication. Most patients who resumed drug use were type 2 diabetics rather than those treating obesity alone.
Dr. Hamlet Gasoyan, the study's lead researcher, explained, 'Our real-world data show that many patients who stop semaglutide or tirzepatide restart the medication or transition to another obesity treatment, which may explain why they regain less weight than patients in randomised trials.'
Dr. Gasoyan added, 'Many patients do not give up on their obesity treatment journey, even if they need to stop their initial medication. In our future work, we will examine the comparative effectiveness of alternative treatment options for obesity in patients who discontinue semaglutide or tirzepatide, to help patients and their clinicians make informed decisions.'
Study Limitations and Broader Implications
The study was conducted retrospectively by examining electronic health records, meaning researchers could not definitively establish causation for weight loss or gain. However, it suggests that post-drug treatments may be crucial in sustaining weight loss after medication cessation.
As of January, 1.6 million UK adults had used these fat-busting jabs in the past year, with an additional 3.3 million people expressing interest in using them by 2026, raising questions about potential supply chain issues. Research revealed that the majority of GLP-1s were purchased through private prescriptions rather than obtained via the NHS, leading to concerns that demand may soon outstrip supply.
Professor Sarah Jackson, a behavioural scientist at University College London and study lead, noted, 'This usage far exceeds NHS England's initial goal of prescribing these drugs to 220,000 people over three years. Our findings suggest many people are accessing these medications outside the NHS. This raises concerns about equity given the costs of these drugs, as well as the adequacy of supervision and treatment.'
