More than half of weight lossIt has been found through new real-world analysis that users often regain at least some of the weight they had ...
More than half of weight lossIt has been found through new real-world analysis that users often regain at least some of the weight they had lost within a year after discontinuing the medication.
New data derived from a broad national claims database aligns with previous clinical research on GLP-1 medications, which have shown that many individuals regain weight after discontinuing the treatment—some even regaining all the lost weight within a single year.
Dr. Michael Weintraub, an endocrinologist at New York University Langone Health and the lead researcher of the study, stated: 'Stopping treatment often results in weight regain in clinical trials, yet there is limited real-world research on this matter.'
"Enhancing and tailoring the treatment strategy for obesity while ensuring optimal gastrointestinal comfort will enhance sustained usage and long-term advantages of weight loss," he added, speaking toMedscape Medical News.
The study, presented at Obesity Week 2025, Atlanta, found that weight increase after discontinuing the treatment was most significant in individuals who had lost the greatest amount of weight using the medications.
Scientists examined 1,230,320 American adults from January 2010 to June 2024 who were using GLP-1 medications for obesity or type 2 diabetes, as documented in Optum's Market Clarity database, which combines electronic health records with billing information.
Out of these, 18,228 individuals discontinued their treatment after losing a minimum of 5 percent of their body weight—the majority of whom had type 2 diabetes.
Out of this total, more than half of the patients were using semaglutide—the key component found in Ozempic and Wegovy—which functions by deceiving the brain into feeling full, thereby significantly reducing hunger and assisting individuals in losing weight.
The other 56 percent were using either liraglutide or tirzepatide, better known as Mounjaro—the "King Kong" of weight loss injections.
On average, individuals received the injections for slightly more than eight months before stopping. All participants in the cohort were classified as obese or overweight, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 39.
Out of the total group of over 1.2 million individuals who received weight-loss injections, more than half continued to use the GLP-1 medication after six months, while 38 percent remained on the injections a year later.
The overall group experienced a rise in weight gain over time following the cessation of injections, increasing from 4.5 percent of total body weight at three months to almost 6 percent at six months, and 7.5 percent after one year without the shots.
In total, 58 percent of users regained the weight once they stopped the treatment.
Dr. Weintraub stated: 'Additional areas for investigation would involve identifying the distinct factors between individuals who sustained their weight loss and those who regained weight after stopping a GLP-1 medication.'
Ultimately, additional approaches are required to improve treatment adherence in order to achieve long-term weight reduction and the best possible patient results.
When asked to provide feedback on the results, session moderator Professor John Apolzan, a nutrition specialist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, stated: 'I believe this reflects an ongoing understanding that these obesity medications should not be stopped, as doing so may lead to adverse consequences and result in weight returning over time.'
It's similar to various other prescription drugs that individuals take, whether they're for high blood pressure or any other condition. Once you start using them, it's common to continue using them and not discontinue them.
Although more than 40 percent of patients managed to keep the weight off after discontinuing the injections, scientists are still uncertain if this outcome was due to changes in lifestyle or the use of another weight loss medication that wasn't included in the claims data.
However, scientists have suggested that the variation in how quickly individuals regain weight might be because certain diets are more challenging for some individuals to stick with, and those aiming to shed pounds must exercise self-control they previously didn't require while on medication.
Earlier research on the effectiveness of various weight loss medications—believed to be used by over 2.5 million individuals in the UK—revealed that even those using more advanced and potent injections such as Mounjaro regained the weight after discontinuing the treatment.
Although patients taking these medications might anticipate losing twice as much weight as those using older treatments—approximately 16kg on average—they tend to regain nearly 10kg within a year, suggesting they could recover the full 16kg in under two years.
The results highlight concerns for the NHS, as guidelines indicate that patients should not receive weight loss injections for longer than two years.
However, the new medications have been discovered to lower the likelihood of various severe conditions, such as heart disease, dementia, and even cancer.
Citing a golden era in obesity management, in October 2025, top physicians stated that Mounjaro and Wegovy are so effective they should be thenumber one treatmentfor obesity 'in nearly all cases'
In updated advice for healthcare professionals, the European Association for the Study of Obesity highlighted the drugs' effectiveness and substantial health advantages, referring to them as strong weight-loss tools that can lower the risk of related issues, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.diabetes.
It comes as a batch of highly anticipated anti-obesity initiativestook effect earlier this month.
New regulations imposed by the government have banned "buy one, get one free" offers on confectionery, potato chips, sugary beverages, and other snacks in England. Additionally, complimentary refills of carbonated drinks in eateries and cafes are now prohibited.
The enforcement will be followed in January with a prohibition on online advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages, along with limitations on television advertising before 9 p.m.
Officials state that the measures aim to address the increasing issue of obesity in Britain.
A concerning study from last year highlighted that the growing obesity crisis in Britain has led to a 39% increase in type 2 diabetes cases among individuals under 40, with approximately 168,000 young adults currently affected by the condition.
Being overweight has also been associated with at least 13 forms of cancer and is the second-largest avoidable factor for the illness in the UK, as reported by Cancer Research UK.
Read more- Could injections such as Ozempic offer a groundbreaking approach to combating obesity, heart disease, dementia, and even substance dependencies?
- Have recent fatalities associated with GLP-1 injections raised concerns about the future of using weight-loss injections as a key component of NHS obesity management?
- Can these weight-loss injections solve the problem of obesity for millions? Discover why semaglutide and tirzepatide are considered the preferred treatments.
- Is the UK's rising need for weight loss injections such as Wegovy signal a major advancement in obesity treatment, or does the strict limitation indicate possible challenges?
- Are assertions about reversing obesity too optimistic, or are weight-loss injections the solution for rising healthcare expenses and long-term health issues in the UK?
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