More than half of weight loss pen users regained at least some of the weight they lost a year after stopping the medication, according to a new study.
Researchers surveyed 1.2 million U.S. adults from January 2010 to June 2024. They were recorded in Optum’s Market Clarity database, which connects electronic health records and insurance data, and were taking GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Of these, 18,228 stopped treatment after losing at least 5% of their body weight, the majority of whom had type 2 diabetes.
Of the total number of people analyzed, more than half used semaglutide (from Ozempic and Wegovy). The remaining 56% were taking liraglutide (Saxenda) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The former is a GLP-1 analog that tricks the brain into thinking the body is full, reducing appetite. Tirzepatide is a double agonist. That is, it acts on GLP-1 and an additional hormone involved in satiety called GIP.
On average, patients used the injections for just over eight months before discontinuing them. All participants in the group were considered obese or overweight, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 39.
Of the total group, more than half were still using GLP-1 drugs after six months, and 38% were still using them after one year. In total, 58% of users regained weight after discontinuing treatment.
Weight regain increased over time after injections were discontinued. I lost 4.5% of my body weight at 3 months, almost 6% at 6 months, and 7.5% after 1 year without medication.
The study, presented at Obesity Week 2025 in Atlanta, USA, found that weight regain after stopping treatment was more extreme in people who lost more weight with the help of drugs.
John Apolzan, a nutrition expert at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center who moderated the session in which the findings were presented, said the healthiest option for patients who require drug treatment for obesity is to continue drug treatment.
— I think this confirms what we know. These types of obesity drugs cannot be stopped because they can have negative effects and cause long-term weight gain. This is similar to many other prescription drugs, such as antihypertensive drugs. Once you start taking it, you tend to keep taking it without stopping.
About The Author
