A new study published in BMC Medicine has shown that stopping weight loss drugs often leads to significant weight regain within weeks of quitting.
The study was a meta-analysis that included randomized controlled trials of anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide, orlistat, and tirzepatide. In total, 11 studies that featured over 2,400 participants were included in the analysis. Body weight and BMI were measured for all participants both during the trials and after discontinuing the weight-loss drugs. Previous research has reported that patients regain weight after quitting weight loss drugs, and this study sought to systematically describe the long-term effects of anti-obesity medications on body weight and body weight change trajectory.
The results showed that participants lost significant amounts of weight while taking anti-obesity medications. However, participants began regaining weight about eight weeks after stopping the medications. This weight regain continued for an average of about 20 weeks before it plateaued. The amount of weight that was regained varied significantly depending on which anti-obesity medication the participant had been taking and whether lifestyle changes were involved during the clinical trial.
The authors noted that weight regain has also been observed with other medical interventions for weight loss, such as bariatric surgery. It has generally been acknowledged that quitting anti-obesity medications will lead to weight regain, and this was the first study to systematically explore the long-term effects of weight loss drugs across different medications and mechanisms of action. Obesity has been linked to many negative health consequences, including heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. While anti-obesity medications are a good solution for many people, they can be expensive and must be taken for life to prevent weight regain. Other solutions, such as lifestyle and dietary changes, may provide an effective, low-cost alternative for many people.
Sources: BMC Medicine, Science Daily
