Users Stopping Anti-Obesity Injections Gain Back Weight at a Quadrupled Rate Compared to People Using Diet and Exercise
New research indicates that people who come off popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro can put back on lost weight at a significantly accelerated pace than those who end conventional diet and exercise regimens.
Findings released in a leading medical journal demonstrates that while overweight people often shed a large proportion of their body weight while on the medication, the mass returns at an estimated rate of 0.8 kg per month once they quit.
"Individuals purchasing such treatments should be informed of the potential of fast rebound weight gain when the therapy concludes," cautioned expert Dr. Susan Jebb.
This pace of recovery implies a return to starting mass in about a year and a half.
Weighing Approaches
The research, which reviewed 37 of studies involving thousands of patients, compared the results of GLP-1 agonists with conventional dieting.
Researchers note that people who lose weight through diet and exercise usually have a less rapid weight regain—around 100 grams monthly—post-intervention.
The Reason for the Quick Rebound
Doctors propose the way of the jabs explains the accelerated rebound.
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own chemical called glucagon-like peptide-1, which moderates appetite.
"Sustained high doses of the hormone concentrations far above than normal could lead to the body to generate a reduced amount of its own natural hormone, and could lessen sensitivity to its effects," said Dr. Adam Collins, a dietetics specialist.
"Stopping of this hormone supplement leads to appetite is unsuppressed, making overeating much more probable."
A Chronic Condition?
Health authorities recommend the jabs for individuals with weight-linked health risks, alongside prescribed lifestyle changes.
Professionals contend that, given the likelihood of weight regain, the therapy is often ongoing.
This view is echoed by pharmaceutical companies, who say that the findings "underscore the chronic nature of excess weight," comparing it to managing diseases like high blood pressure.
User Accounts
Users who have stopped the medication describe a intense return of hunger.
"It felt as if a switch that goes on and I was suddenly starving," recalled an individual.
The struggle is worsened if individuals have not adopted lasting lifestyle or habit modifications during treatment.
Significant Use
Recent estimates suggest that a significant number of adults in the UK have used these injections in the past year, with demand remaining high.
- Use is greater among females compared to men.
- The 40s and 50s demographic shows the highest usage rates.
- A large proportion obtain the drugs through private healthcare rather than the NHS.
Ultimately, clinicians emphasize that while the jabs are effective agents for weight loss, they are not a standalone fix and maintained weight loss relies on integrated behavioural changes.
