People who stop taking weight-loss jabs regain weight within two years, study finds

A BMJ review of 37 studies involving 9,341 people found that, on average, those who stopped GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs returned to their original weight in about 1.7 years and that cardio‑metabolic markers tended to revert in about 1.4 years.

A new analysis led by researchers at the University of Oxford and published in the BMJ examined outcomes after people stopped GLP‑1 weight-loss medications. The review pooled 37 existing studies and data on 9,341 participants. Treatment periods averaged about 39 weeks and follow-up averaged about 32 weeks. Authors and health groups noted the medicines can produce important weight loss but that many measures returned toward baseline after treatment stopped. Key findings: - The review combined 37 studies with 9,341 participants across different GLP‑1 medications. - People lost an average of 8.3 kg during treatment and regained about 4.8 kg in the first year; projections estimated a return to original weight in around 1.7 years after stopping. - Reported average weight regain after stopping was about 0.4 kg per month, and regain was almost four times faster than after behavioural programmes. - Cardio‑metabolic benefits such as blood pressure and cholesterol also tended to return toward pre-treatment levels within about 1.4 years. Summary: The analysis indicates weight and some metabolic gains from GLP‑1 drugs often diminish after the medication is stopped, typically over about one to two years. Health organisations and researchers emphasised the role of additional support alongside medication, and the NHS has noted plans to expand its digital weight management programme as part of its 10-year health plan. Undetermined at this time.