Stopping weight loss jabs can lead to rapid weight regain in one year, study suggests
Stopping Weight Loss Injections May Result in Weight Regain Within a Year, Study Indicates
A recent investigation suggests that individuals using obesity-focused injections could experience notable weight recovery within 12 months of discontinuing the treatment. Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that after 52 weeks without the medication, participants on average regained 60% of the weight they had previously lost.
Weight Regain and Health Implications
Experts caution that if the regained weight primarily consists of fat, patients might end up in a less favorable condition than before initiating the treatment. The study emphasizes that while weight loss is initially achieved, the long-term retention of some lost mass remains uncertain.
“Our projections show that even though people regain most of the weight they have lost, they still maintain some of the weight loss. However, what we currently don’t know is if the same proportion of lean mass is recovered,” explained Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
Medication Mechanism and Broader Applications
Weight loss injections belong to a category of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to control blood sugar and insulin levels. Originally designed for type 2 diabetes management, certain variants—like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro)—are now approved for obesity treatment on the NHS.
In addition to obesity management, these injections show potential in addressing substance dependencies. A separate study involving over 600,000 US veterans with type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 drugs may reduce the risk of developing addiction to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, and opioids. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight a 14% decrease in substance use disorders for those without prior addictions.
Long-Term Weight Stability and Future Research
The Cambridge study, which combined six trials with more than 3,200 participants, noted that “significant weight regain occurs after stopping the drugs.” However, the weight return appears to stabilize, reaching 75% of the original loss by 60 weeks. This suggests that 25% of the reduction could be sustained over time.
Among veterans already facing substance use challenges, the jabs were associated with a 31% reduction in emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and related deaths. While the research primarily focused on older men, comparable outcomes were observed in women.
Researchers are urging further trials to analyze how these medications influence weight composition during and after treatment. The goal is to determine if the balance between fat and lean mass is preserved, which could impact long-term health outcomes.
