Injectable GLP‑1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are being used more and more. People often ask what happens if they stop taking these medicines.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic looked at nearly 8,000 patients in Ohio and Florida who began a GLP‑1 injection, used it for three to twelve months, and then stopped. They followed the patients for a year to see how their weight changed.
What the study found
Most people did not gain back a lot of weight. In fact, many kept the weight they had lost or even lost a little more.
- People treated for obesity lost about 8 % of their body weight before stopping. After a year, they regained only about 0.5 %.
- People treated for type‑2 diabetes lost about 4 % before stopping and lost another 1.3 % in the following year.
- Among the obesity group, 55 % gained a little weight, while 45 % stayed the same or kept losing.
- In the diabetes group, 44 % gained weight and 56 % stayed steady or kept losing.
Why do patients stop?
The main reasons were cost and side‑effects. Insurance often covered the drugs for diabetes but not always for obesity, so people with diabetes were more likely to start the medication again.
What do patients do after stopping?
Within a year, many tried other ways to manage weight:
- 27 % switched to a different weight‑loss drug, including older obesity medicines or the other GLP‑1 drug.
- 20 % went back to the original medication.
- 14 % used lifestyle programs with dietitians or exercise coaches.
- Less than 1 % had weight‑loss surgery.
What the researchers say
The study shows that real‑world patients have more options than those in tightly controlled clinical trials. Being able to change medicines or get extra support helps keep weight from bouncing back.
"Most people do not quit their weight‑loss journey just because they stop one drug," said Dr. Hamlet Gasoyan, who led the research. "Future work will compare how well different follow‑up treatments work for those who stop semaglutide or tirzepatide."