Study finds rapid weight regain after stopping weight loss drugs

A University of Oxford analysis has found that patients regain weight quickly after stopping GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including newer medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. The review of 11 studies involving 6,370 adults revealed that while users typically lost 16kg on newer drugs, they regained around 9.6kg within a year of stopping treatment.

Older drugs led to an average loss of 8kg, but full regain occurred in under 10 months. In contrast, previous research showed that people who lost weight through diet took about five years to regain it. Researchers suggest the speed of regain after drug withdrawal may be due to a lack of behavioral strategies.

The findings raise questions about the long-term viability of NHS-funded treatment, as current guidelines limit use to two years. Experts stress that lifestyle support—such as behavioral therapy and nutritional counselling—is essential to maintain weight loss after discontinuing medication.