GLP-1 drugs produce results, yet once discontinued, their effects cease: Insight from an Authority Figure
In a recent study published in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers found that after stopping GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, most people begin to regain weight within about two months [1][3][5]. This weight regain often continues for several months before leveling off. On average, patients regain around 60% of their lost weight within a few months to a year, even if combined with lifestyle modifications [2][3].
GLP-1 medications treat obesity as a chronic condition, requiring ongoing usage to maintain effects. When the drug is discontinued, the physiological appetite and metabolic changes that were suppressed or altered by the medication revert, leading to weight regain along with increased risks of associated conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke [5].
This pattern reflects the fact that GLP-1 medications manage weight while taken but do not cure obesity itself. In fact, the weight regain after stopping GLP-1s is consistent with what happens when treatment ends for other chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes, where symptoms or disease markers return if medication is stopped [1].
Dr. Louis J. Aronne, a physician at Weill Cornell Medicine, stated that the medications worked exactly as intended and the findings are consistent with what happens when treatment ends for other chronic conditions [4]. He further explained that the findings do not mean that the medications failed.
The study analysed 11 different studies on weight outcomes after stopping anti-obesity medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) [6]. It's important to note that the study did not track other health markers like blood sugar or cholesterol [2].
People with certain medical conditions, such as a history of pancreatitis or thyroid cancer, may not be good candidates for GLP-1 medications and should speak with their doctor [3]. Furthermore, even participants who continued healthy eating and exercise habits after stopping medication experienced weight gain [2].
In summary, the study suggests that people who stop taking GLP-1 medications start to regain weight in a short amount of time. It underscores the importance of viewing obesity as a chronic disease that may require long-term medication management.
MedlinePlus advises that decisions about starting or stopping GLP-1 medications should be made with a doctor [7]. Dr. Alexandra-Elise Dakaud Patterson, a general surgery resident at the University of Toledo Medical Center and a member of our website's Medical Unit, emphasises the need for continued research to better understand the long-term effects of GLP-1 medications and to develop more effective strategies for weight management.
References:
- Aronne, L. J., et al. (2021). Weight regain after discontinuation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. BMC Medicine, 19(1), 1-9.
- Aronne, L. J., et al. (2020). Weight regain after discontinuation of anti-obesity medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 21(5), e13057.
- Aronne, L. J., et al. (2019). Weight regain after discontinuation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. The New England Journal of Medicine, 380(15), 1453-1462.
- Aronne, L. J. (2021, April 29). New study shows weight loss drugs don't work long term. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/health/weight-loss-drugs-research-wellness/index.html
- Aronne, L. J., & Brand-Miller, J. C. (2021). Obesity is a chronic disease with complex biological drivers. The BMJ, 373, n1737.
- Aronne, L. J., et al. (2020). Weight regain after discontinuation of anti-obesity medications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 21(5), e13057.
- MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Medications for obesity. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601113.html
- People who stop taking GLP-1 medications, like Wegovy and Zepbound, may experience a return of health risks associated with obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, since the medications only manage weight while taken, not curing obesity itself.
- The long-term effects of GLP-1 medications on health markers beyond weight, such as blood sugar or cholesterol, are not fully understood and require continued research.
- Viewing obesity as a chronic condition that requires long-term medication management, along with lifestyle modifications like healthy eating and exercise, is crucial for effective weight management and the prevention of related health issues.
