The sustainability of weight-loss medicine is beneath scrutiny as new analysis exhibits that individuals who cease taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists regain the kilos at a gentle charge, returning to their authentic dimension after round 1.7 years. The findings elevate questions on whether or not this “magic remedy” for weight problems is definitely unsustainable with no life-long dedication to the medicine.
College of Oxford researchers assessed a variety of scientific trials in addition to Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane and Internet of Science databases, with a give attention to what occurred after cessation of therapy concerning adults who had been chubby or overweight. They discovered that, on common, individuals regained 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) monthly, with all weight reduction reversed after 1.7 years. What’s extra, this acquire was extra speedy than seen in different dietary weight-loss interventions.
The examine pooled knowledge from 37 scientific trials and observational research involving a complete of 9,341 adults, making it one of the complete makes an attempt to date to quantify what really occurs after individuals come off these medicines. And weight acquire wasn’t the one problem, because the rebound additionally negated the optimistic affect GLP-1 medicines had on coronary heart and metabolic well being markers, together with ldl cholesterol and blood strain. These cardiometabolic markers (together with HbA1c, fasting glucose, ldl cholesterol, triglycerides and blood strain) returned to baseline even sooner than weight, at round 1.4 years after stopping therapy.
“GLP-1 receptor agonists shouldn’t be relied on as a magic remedy for treating weight problems,” mentioned Qi Solar, an affiliate professor of drugs at Harvard Medical Faculty. “Whereas appreciable weight reduction, even when short-term, should still deliver some well being advantages for these with weight problems, individuals utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists ought to pay attention to the excessive discontinuation charge and the implications of cessation of medicines.”
Whereas there is not any doubt that GLP-1 medicine like semaglutide and tirzepatide have reworked how we deal with weight problems, it is price noting that round half of customers cease taking the medicine inside 12 months, having achieved their weight-loss objectives. However this analysis supplies robust proof that short-term use – very similar to excessive calorie-restriction diets – delivers short-term outcomes.
And, because the researchers add, the examine is not to border GLP-1 medicines as a waste of money and time, however that customers ought to understand that they want a extra holistic strategy to weight reduction that may assist maintain the outcomes they get whereas taking the medicine.
“This proof means that regardless of their success in reaching preliminary weight reduction, these medicine alone is probably not ample for long run weight management,” they wrote. “This proof cautions in opposition to quick time period use of weight administration medicines, emphasizes the necessity for additional analysis into value efficient methods for long run weight management, and reinforces the significance of main prevention.”
The staff acknowledge the constraints of their findings, which embody assessing research that diverse in design, size and high quality, nevertheless, they used three completely different strategies to investigate the information and every consequence supplied the same quantity by way of when weight was regained after stopping medication.
Whereas GLP-1 medicine have been round for greater than a decade, 2024 saw a 700% increase within the variety of People taking the medicines for weight reduction. In August 2025, researchers discovered that 12% of US adults have tried a GLP-1 drug to handle their weight – with a fifth being girls aged 50 to 64 years, when menopausal hormonal shifts make it a lot tougher to lose kilos by eating regimen and train alone. (This alone is a subject worthy of rather more analysis, with weight gain in women over the age of 50 years – which significantly will increase their cardiometabolic well being dangers – historically considered by medical scientists as simply an inevitable a part of the getting older course of.)
This new examine, nevertheless, shines a lightweight on how GLP-1 medicines can result in individuals placing extra significance on drug intervention than vitamin, eating regimen and bodily exercise for weight administration – all issues essential for long-term cardiometabolic well being.
“The examine findings casted doubt on the notion that GLP-1 receptor agonists are an ideal remedy for weight problems,” mentioned Solar. “Wholesome dietary and life-style practices ought to stay the inspiration for weight problems therapy and administration, with medicines reminiscent of GLP-1 receptor agonists used as adjuncts.
“Such practises not solely assist stop extra weight acquire however can even result in quite a few well being advantages that transcend weight management,” the scientist added. “Efficient public well being measures, reminiscent of taxation on sugary drinks, clear meals labeling, and subsidies for recent fruit and greens, must be in place to facilitate the adherence and enchancment of eating regimen high quality.”
Along with this, we nonetheless do not have a whole lot of knowledge referring to long-term GLP-1 use and potential health issues, with the category of medicine being comparatively new and never but sufficient longitudinal analysis. This form of knowledge takes many years, if not longer, to collect.
With the GLP-1 discontinuation charge excessive amongst adults who’re chubby or overweight – one 2025 study of 125,474 people discovered that 46.5% of sufferers stopped taking the medicine after a yr – the researchers name for extra work to assist individuals in managing their weight long-term.
The examine was printed within the journal The BMJ.
Supply: University of Oxford by way of Scimex
