Overview
- Across 9,341 participants, weight rose about 0.4 kg per month after stopping medication, with a return to pre-treatment weight projected at roughly 1.7 years.
- Cardiometabolic improvements, including blood pressure and cholesterol gains, were projected to revert to baseline within about 1.4 years after cessation.
- Patients on semaglutide or tirzepatide regained weight faster at about 0.8 kg per month, yet were projected to reach baseline at a similar time of around 1.5 years due to larger initial losses.
- Weight regain after stopping medication was nearly four times faster than after completing lifestyle-based programs, regardless of the amount initially lost.
- Participants were treated for an average of 39 weeks with roughly 32 weeks of follow-up, and researchers said they cannot yet predict who will maintain weight loss, as health bodies issue guidance and safety alerts during rapid uptake.