Weight Loss Drug Users Likely to Gain the Pounds Back, According to Study
A new study is revealing what happens to the body after stopping weight loss drugs. The results are not good news for people who hope that the weight is sure to stay off for good. Read on for the details about what the latest research says about the long-term results of popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
The Problem of Regaining Weight After Stopping the Use of GLP-1 Medications
The popularity of weight loss drugs has soared in recent years. While most patients have experienced success with losing weight in a short amount of time, a new study published this week reveals that weight is likely to return once the treatment is stopped.
Researchers from the University of Oxford reported the results in a paper published on Wednesday in The BMJ journal. The new review of existing research found that individuals using weight loss drugs will return to their previous weight within a period of two years.
The GLP-1 drugs have seen a surge in popularity, with a reported 15 million Americans currently leaning on the medications to lose weight. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone found naturally in the body. The hormone sends signals to the brain and stomach that the body is full and does not need more food.
The BMJ review looked at data from 9,341 obese or overweight patients treated across 37 studies with any of 18 different weight-loss drugs. The results showed that the patient regained an average of one pound per month after stopping the treatment. The same study also predicted that the patients would be back at their pre-treatment weight within two years.
The GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been widely praised not just for their success in helping people to shed the pounds but also for reducing serious health risks associated with being overweight. However, the same study also noted that these health risks also returned to their previous baseline within just 1.4 years. These health threats include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The BMJ study looked at a variety of GLP-1 drugs, including newer products such as semaglutide. The weight gain was even faster on the semaglutide drugs specifically, averaging an average of 1.8 pounds per month after stopping the treatment. Researchers believe that the higher weight gain after stopping the newer drugs is because the patients on these more advanced medications tend to lose more weight initially.
There is no doubt that the weight loss drugs are successful in the early stages. A survey from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index in October 2025 showed that there are now approximately 7.6 million fewer obese people in the U.S. when compared to 2022. While the adult obesity rate across the country hit a record high of 39.9% in 2022, that percentage is now at 37%. According to the same survey, the use of GLP1-1 drugs doubled between 2024 and 2025, making it impossible to miss the connection.
Weight Regain is Common with Any Type of Intervention
Physicians have been quick to point out that weight gain is a common occurrence with any type of weight loss intervention. For instance, people who engage in traditional methods of diet and exercise also have a high chance of gaining the lost pounds back once they deviate from their routine.
However, the latest research shows that this common problem is exacerbated with the use of GLP-1 medications. Why is this? Scientists believe that the body may begin to naturally produce less of its own GLP-1 when it relies on artificial GLP-1 hormones for such a long period of time.
It is also important to note that using GLP-1 drugs as a means to suppress appetite leads to reduced muscle mass along with fat loss. Other studies have demonstrated that lean muscle mass loss accounts for up to 60% of overall weight loss. This is why people who are prescribed weight loss drugs are told to start an exercise routine that includes plenty of strength training to avoid this muscle loss.
In addition, physicians have routinely warned about the importance of having a safety net in place when going off the GLP-1 drugs. The latest research just reinforces the belief that obesity management is a long-term process and not a quick fix. Most patients will require extended nutritional and behavioral support after stopping the drugs to keep the pounds off.
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