A new study from the University of Oxford’s Biomedical Research Centre shows that patients who stop taking weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro tend to regain all the weight they lost within two years. The research focused on a group of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The analysis reviewed nearly 8,000 studies, comparing both older and newer weight loss drugs. Older medications, such as Byetta and Victoza, were found to cause patients to return to their original weight within about one year after stopping treatment. For newer drugs like Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro, weight regain took slightly longer—around 1.7 years.
On average, patients lost about 7.9 kilograms (17.4 pounds) while on these drugs. After stopping, they regained weight at a rate of 0.7 kilograms (1.5 pounds) per month. Those using newer medications lost more weight—about 16.1 kilograms (35.5 pounds)—but also gained back weight faster, at 0.8 kilograms (1.8 pounds) per month.
The study highlights that weight regain after stopping these drugs happens more quickly than after behavioral weight loss methods, like dieting. The authors warn that using weight loss medications alone is not enough to maintain results long term. Instead, a broader strategy is needed to prevent regaining weight once the drugs are stopped.
Current guidelines recommend patients use these medications for no longer than two years. Susan Jebb, a co-author of the study, called the drugs “very effective,” but said they are only a temporary solution when used as intended.
“Either people really have to accept this as a treatment for life, or we in science need to think really, really hard about how to support people when they stop the drug,” she said.
The findings stress the importance of combining medication with lifestyle changes and ongoing support to achieve lasting weight loss.
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