Patients Quickly Regain Weight After Stopping Weight Loss Drugs

Researchers find people regain 60% of lost weight within a year of discontinuing medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A study by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that on average, patients regain 60% of the weight they lost within a year of stopping taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. However, they are able to sustain about 25% of their initial weight loss long-term. The researchers say that while the drugs act like "brakes on our appetite," helping people eat less, the rapid weight regain after discontinuation highlights the importance of developing healthy eating habits during treatment.

Why it matters

More than a billion people worldwide are living with obesity, which increases the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. While weight loss drugs can lead to significant weight loss, the high rate of discontinuation and subsequent weight regain is a major concern, as it undermines the potential health benefits of these medications.

The details

The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 48 relevant studies, including 36 randomized controlled trials and 12 non-randomized studies. They focused on the 6 randomized controlled trials that followed patients for up to 52 weeks after they stopped taking the weight loss medications. Their model estimated that individuals regained 60% of their original weight loss by 52 weeks, and projected that weight regain would plateau at around 75% of the initial weight loss. This means that 25% of the initial weight loss may be sustained long-term. The researchers believe that the drugs may help people develop healthier eating habits that persist even after treatment, and may also have longer-term effects on hormone levels and appetite control mechanisms.

  • The study followed patients for up to 52 weeks after they stopped taking the weight loss medications.
  • The researchers projected that weight regain would plateau around 60 weeks after discontinuation.

The players

University of Cambridge

The institution where the researchers who conducted this study are based.

Brajan Budini

A medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, who was involved in the study.

Steven Luo

A medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, who was involved in the study.

Ozempic

A weight loss drug that targets the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R).

Wegovy

Another weight loss drug that targets the GLP-1R.

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What they’re saying

“Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite, making us feel full sooner, which means we eat less and therefore lose weight. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brake, and this can lead to rapid weight regain.”

— Brajan Budini, Medical student, School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge (eClinicalMedicine)

“When stopping weight loss drugs, doctors and patients should be aware of the potential for weight regain and consider ways to mitigate this risk. It's important that people are given advice on improving their diet and exercise, rather than relying solely on the drugs, as this may help them maintain good habits when they stop taking them.”

— Steven Luo, Medical student, School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge (eClinicalMedicine)

What’s next

The researchers say there are several limitations to their study, including that the trial data they used only extended to 52 weeks after patients stopped taking the medications. They plan to continue studying the long-term effects of weight loss drugs and strategies to help patients maintain their weight loss.

The takeaway

This study highlights the challenges of long-term weight management with weight loss medications. While these drugs can lead to significant initial weight loss, the rapid regain of weight after discontinuation underscores the importance of developing sustainable healthy habits during treatment, rather than relying solely on the medications. Doctors and patients need to work together to find ways to help patients maintain their weight loss in the long run.