Patients Quickly Regain Weight After Stopping Weight Loss Drugs

Study finds individuals regain 60% of weight lost within a year of discontinuing medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A new study from researchers at the University of Cambridge has found that patients who stop taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy quickly regain a significant portion of the weight they lost. The researchers analyzed data from 48 studies and determined that individuals regain an average of 60% of their lost weight within the first year after discontinuing the medications.

Why it matters

Weight loss drugs that target the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they can lead to significant weight loss of 15-20%. However, many patients stop taking these drugs within the first two years, often due to side effects or limited insurance coverage. This study highlights the challenges of maintaining weight loss after stopping these medications, which is important for doctors and patients to understand.

The details

The researchers first conducted a systematic review of existing literature, then performed a meta-analysis to pool the results of multiple studies. They focused on 6 randomized controlled trials that followed patients for up to 52 weeks after they stopped taking the weight loss drugs. The model they developed estimated that individuals undergo rapid initial weight regain that slows over time, with 60% of the original weight loss regained by 52 weeks. By 60 weeks, the weight regain is projected to plateau at around 75% of the initial weight loss.

  • The study data followed patients for up to 52 weeks after they stopped taking the weight loss medications.
  • The researchers extrapolated the weight regain trajectory out to 60 weeks, at which point the regain is projected to plateau.

The players

Brajan Budini

A medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study.

Steven Luo

A medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study.

University of Cambridge

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

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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 (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 (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 and trajectory of weight regain beyond one year.

The takeaway

This study highlights the challenges patients face in maintaining weight loss after stopping popular new weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Doctors and patients need to be aware of the potential for rapid weight regain and work on developing sustainable lifestyle changes, rather than relying solely on the medications, to help patients keep the weight off long-term.