Keeping the Weight Off: New Insights on GLP-1 Drugs

A recent study has some good news for people using GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy or Mounjaro. It suggests that many users may not quickly regain lost weight after stopping treatment. The study looked at data from thousands of patients at U. S. medical clinics. It found that most people either kept the weight off or continued losing it 18 months after stopping semaglutide or tirzepatide. This is different from what drugmakers like Novo Nordisk have found in their clinical trials. Their studies suggest that many patients regain lost weight quickly after stopping treatment. Experts are now questioning how long people need to use these drugs to keep the benefits. The study's findings could change how obesity is managed. Patients who received exercise counseling were nearly twice as likely to maintain their weight loss. This suggests that lifestyle changes play a big role.The study has some limitations. It's not as reliable as controlled clinical trials. But it does give hope that not everyone will regain weight after stopping the drugs. Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze millions of doctors' notes and clinical data. They found that six months after stopping tirzepatide, about 28% of users regained weight, while 36% kept it off and 36% continued to lose weight. For semaglutide users, about 33% regained weight, 32% maintained their loss, and 35% were still losing weight six months after stopping. The study also found links between weight regain and factors like anxiety, anemia, and depression. But these connections need more research. Experts agree that behavior changes are key to maintaining weight loss. GLP-1 drugs help by suppressing calorie intake, but lasting weight loss depends on adjusting eating habits.