Stopping Ozempic and Wegovy often leads to weight regain

Studies report that people who stop GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy typically regain much of the lost weight within about 1.5 years, and improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol tend to reverse.

Many people use GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy to reduce weight and improve metabolic measures. Doctors and researchers describe these medicines as treatments intended for long-term management of chronic conditions like obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Multiple studies and a recent review examined outcomes after people stopped these drugs and tracked weight and health markers over time. The reporting emphasizes what happens after discontinuation rather than treatment initiation. What the studies found: - A review found people taking GLP-1s lost an average of 32 pounds on the drugs and regained about 21 pounds in the first year after stopping. - Weight regain after stopping GLP-1s often occurs within roughly 1.5 years, and measures such as blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol returned toward prior levels within about 1.4 years. - The rate of weight return after stopping GLP-1s was reported to be about four times faster than the rate seen after weight loss from behavioral changes. - Clinicians report appetite and hunger signals commonly increase after stopping these medications, and restarting treatment may not always be as effective later. Summary: Stopping GLP-1 medications is commonly followed by substantial weight regain and reversal of earlier improvements in metabolic markers. Clinicians in the coverage describe these drugs as long-term treatments for chronic conditions and note the need for counseling and planning around discontinuation. Undetermined at this time.