GLP-1 Drugs Don't Inevitably Lead to Weight Regain After Stopping

Study finds many patients maintain or continue losing weight after discontinuing Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:08pm

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A study by the Cleveland Clinic found that stopping the use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro does not necessarily lead to significant weight gain for all patients. Many patients either continued the same medication, switched to other obesity treatments, or maintained their weight loss through lifestyle changes.

Why it matters

This is an important finding that challenges the common assumption that discontinuing GLP-1 drugs will automatically cause weight regain. The study suggests that with proper follow-up care and alternative interventions, patients may be able to sustain their weight loss even after stopping these medications.

The details

The study analyzed data from around 8,000 patients who stopped using GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or tirzepatide between January 2021 and June 2025. They found that 19.6% of patients continued the same GLP-1 therapy, while 35.2% transitioned to other obesity treatments like alternative medications, lifestyle programs, or bariatric surgery. Among diabetes patients, they saw an additional 1.3% weight loss on average the year after stopping the medication. For obese patients, they gained back only 0.5% of their weight on average.

  • The study was published in the Journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2026.
  • The data analyzed covered patients who stopped using GLP-1 drugs between January 2021 and June 2025.

The players

Cleveland Clinic

A nonprofit academic medical center that conducted the study on the effects of discontinuing GLP-1 drugs.

Hamlet Gasoyan

The lead author of the study and a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Value-Based Care Research.

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What they’re saying

“Our real-world data show that many patients who stop semaglutide or tirzepatide restart the medication or transition to another obesity treatment, which may explain why they regain less weight than patients in randomized trials.”

— Hamlet Gasoyan, Researcher, Cleveland Clinic Center for Value-Based Care Research (Journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism)

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue studying long-term outcomes for patients who discontinue GLP-1 drugs to better understand the factors that influence weight maintenance.

The takeaway

This study provides an encouraging outlook, showing that weight regain is not inevitable after stopping GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. With proper follow-up care and alternative treatment options, many patients are able to sustain their weight loss progress.