A study published on 7 January 2026 in the British Medical Journal revealed that patients who stop using GLP-1 agonists for weight loss typically regain all lost weight within two years. Researchers found that progress disappears quickly without continued medication.
Notable Monthly Weight Gain
The comprehensive meta-analysis was led by academics at the University of Oxford. It examined data from 37 different clinical trials involving over nine thousand participants. The results provide a sobering perspective on the long-term efficacy of these modern treatments.
Moreover, of the 37 studies analyzed, the average treatment duration of patients was 39 weeks, with an average health-related follow-up of 32 weeks that started after the treatment ended. This timeline highlights the immediate challenges faced by those who stop therapy.
Findings indicate that individuals regain weight at an average rate of 0.40 kilograms every month once they cease treatment. This rebound is nearly four times faster than the regain seen after traditional behavioral weight management programs like diet plans.
Most patients returned to their baseline starting weight within an average of 1.7 years. This rapid reversal suggests that the biological suppression of appetite provided by GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro is temporary and highly dependent on use.
Obesity as a Recurring Condition
The study also tracked critical cardio-metabolic markers, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The findings further showed vital health indicators generally returned to their original pre-treatment levels within 14 months of stopping the weekly injections.
Nevertheless, based on the aforementioned results, obesity is positioned as a chronic and relapsing medical condition. Drugs like GLP-1 agonists treat symptoms rather than curing the underlying biological causes that drive long-term weight gain in patients.
Health experts and the National Health Service have been emphasizing that GLP-1 agonists must be paired with behavioral support. This includes physical activity advice and dietary counseling to help people sustain their health benefits if they eventually stop the drugs.
Government officials are urged to review the findings above to determine how to best allocate resources for obesity treatment. The high cost of the drugs versus the risk of rapid weight regain presents a significant challenge for public health budgets globally.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- West, S., Scragg, J., Aveyard, P., Oke, J. L., Willis, L., Haffner, S. J. P., Knight, H., Wang, D., Morrow, S., Heath, L., Jebb, S. A., and Koutoukidis, D. A. 2026. “Weight Regain After Cessation of Medication for Weight Management: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” BM 392: e085304. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-085304