Recent real-world data reveal a troubling truth for many people who stop taking GLP-1 medications: more than half of them regain a meaningful portion of the weight they lost within a year. According to a large retrospective cohort study of U.S. adults, individuals who discontinued treatment after losing at least 5% of their body weight were significantly likely to experience weight recurrence over time.
In this study, drawn from a claims and electronic health record database, over 18,000 people who stopped GLP-1 therapy were tracked. Among them, most had type 2 diabetes, but a significant subgroup did not. On average, participants had been on the drugs for just over eight months before discontinuing. Their average weight loss during treatment hovered around 10%. Yet, once they stopped, weight creeping back was not a rare side effect — it was more the rule than the exception.
The pattern of regain was gradual but steady: three months after stopping, individuals had regained about 4.5% of their body weight, rising to 7.5% after a full year. Notably, the people who lost more weight on the drugs were also those most likely to regain more when they stopped. Still, not everyone fell back: about 42% of the cohort maintained their lower weight a year later, and those with diabetes seemed somewhat more likely to keep it off.
Experts interpreting the findings emphasized that stopping GLP-1 therapy isn’t a benign decision. For some, the weight recurrence is more than just a minor setback — it underscores the biological nature of weight regulation and the challenge of sustaining drug-driven weight loss. The suggestion is clear: to maximize benefit, obesity treatment with GLP-1s might need to be long-term, personalized, and supported by strategies to minimize side effects that can prompt people to quit.
Researchers also called for more work to understand why some people maintain their weight loss while others don’t. What differentiates the 42% who sustain their results? Is it lifestyle habits, genetic factors, or even switching to different formulations? And perhaps most critically, how can we encourage persistence in treatment — whether by reducing side effects, improving access, or offering behavioral support — to preserve the benefits of GLP-1s over the long haul.
Ultimately, this data serves as a powerful reminder: GLP-1 medications are effective tools, but stopping them comes with real risks. Their discontinuation needs to be carefully managed, and decisions about when and whether to stop should be made with a long-term mindset.