A new analysis finds people who stop taking Ozempic-like drugs retain about 25 percent of their weight loss after one year. However, it's unclear how much of that lost weight is muscle versus fat.
The study, led by University of Cambridge researchers Brajan Budini and Steven Luo, reviewed six high-quality trials involving over 3,200 participants. It shows patients rapidly regain weight after stopping GLP-1 medications, recovering about 60 percent of lost weight within 52 weeks.
Drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, reducing appetite. When discontinued, patients often revert to previous eating patterns, leading to swift weight gain.
Researchers project weight regain plateaus around 60 weeks, with most people eventually regaining 75 percent of the weight they lost. A key concern: initial weight loss includes significant lean muscle mass, which may not recover as easily as fat.
"If the regained weight is disproportionately fat, individuals may ultimately be worse off," said Budini. The team emphasizes combining medication with diet and exercise to preserve metabolic health.
Long-term strategies such as tapering doses and reinforcing healthy behaviors are recommended to sustain benefits after treatment ends.