Weight loss medications are increasingly being used as an effective treatment for obesity, significantly helping adults reduce excess weight.
Among the most well-known of these drugs are Ozempic and Wegovy, which both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, along with other approved medications aimed at controlling weight and improving overall health. Numerous studies and clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs, their effects on the body, and the challenges related to their use and discontinuation.
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In this context, a new study has found that patients taking weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy may regain the weight they lost within a few weeks of stopping the medication.
The research team, including scientists from Peking University People’s Hospital in China, analyzed data from 11 clinical trials involving around 2,500 participants. They found that most patients gradually regained weight after ending the treatment.
The review, published in BMC Medicine, revealed that weight regain typically begins around eight weeks after stopping the medication and may continue for up to 20 weeks before stabilizing.
Most of the trials focused on semaglutide, one of six approved medications for treating obesity in adults. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has gained widespread popularity as an effective weight loss drug.
The findings showed that the substantial weight loss achieved through these medications is often followed by a rapid regain once the drugs are discontinued. Researchers also observed that factors such as the type of medication and adherence to lifestyle changes—including diet and exercise—significantly impacted the rate of weight regain.
For instance, patients who took tirzepatide for 36 weeks regained nearly half of the lost weight after switching to a placebo.
The researchers stressed the need for long-term studies to better understand the factors influencing weight change after discontinuing weight loss medications, with the goal of improving obesity treatment strategies and preventing weight regain.
Source: The Independent
