New research reveals that patients who come off popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro can put back on shed pounds at a significantly accelerated pace than those who halt traditional diet and exercise regimens.
Research printed in a leading health publication shows that while obese people often shed a large proportion of their body weight while on the medication, the weight is regained at an average rate of nearly a kilo each month after stopping.
"Users purchasing these drugs must be cognizant of the risk of fast rebound weight gain when the medication concludes," cautioned researcher Dr. Susan Jebb.
This pace of recovery suggests a reversion to pre-treatment mass within about a year and a half.
Comparing Approaches
The research, which examined 37 of studies involving over 9,000 of patients, contrasted the effects of GLP-1 agonists with conventional dieting.
The team point out that individuals who shed pounds through lifestyle changes alone generally experience a more gradual weight regain—around 100 grams monthly—once they finish.
The Reason for the Fast Regain
Nutrition scientists suggest the mode of action of the injections explains the accelerated weight return.
The injections copy a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which controls hunger.
"Artificially providing GLP-1 concentrations far above than normal may cause the body to generate a reduced amount of its endogenous hormone, and may also diminish responsiveness to its actions," explained Dr. Adam Collins, a dietetics specialist.
"Stopping of this medication means hunger is uncontrolled, making binge eating much more probable."
An Ongoing Issue?
Health authorities recommend the injections for people with obesity-related medical conditions, alongside recommended diet and exercise modifications.
Professionals contend that, given the significant potential of weight regain, the therapy is often ongoing.
This perspective is reinforced by pharmaceutical companies, who note that the findings "emphasize the persistent character of excess weight," akin to managing conditions like high blood pressure.
Patient Experiences
Individuals who have discontinued the medication report a intense resurgence of hunger.
"I experienced something activating and you're instantly starving," recalled a patient.
This difficulty is exacerbated if patients have not developed lasting lifestyle or habit modifications during therapy.
Widespread Interest
Recent estimates show that a significant number of people in the UK have used these injections in the past year, with desire remaining high.
- Use is more common among females than men.
- The 40s and 50s demographic shows the highest level of interest.
- A large proportion obtain the drugs through private healthcare rather than the NHS.
Finally, researchers caution that while these medications are effective tools for weight loss, they are not a standalone cure and maintained weight loss relies on combined lifestyle changes.
