A broad analysis of previous research has shown that when patients stop taking weight-loss medications, the beneficial effects of these drugs on weight and other health issues dissipate within two years. By reviewing data from 9,341 patients with obesity or overweight who were treated in 37 studies with one of 18 different weight-loss drugs, researchers found that they regained an average of 0.4 kilograms per month after discontinuing the medications. It is expected that they will return to their pre-treatment weight within 1.7 years. According to a report on the study, published in the journal 'The BMJ', it is expected that risk factors for heart health, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which improved with the drugs, will return to pre-treatment levels within an average of 1.4 years after stopping the medication. Nearly half of the patients had taken GLP-1 drugs, including 1,776 patients who received the newest and most effective semaglutide, sold under the brand names 'Ozempic' and 'Wegovy' by 'Novo Nordisk', and tirzepatide, sold as 'Mounjaro' and 'Zepbound' by 'Eli Lilly'. The rate of weight regain was faster with semaglutide and tirzepatide, averaging approximately 0.8 kilograms per month. The researchers concluded that regardless of the amount of weight lost, monthly weight regain is faster after taking weight-loss drugs compared to behavior-based weight management programs. The study was unable to determine if some patients are better able to maintain their weight after it has decreased compared to others. Lead researcher Demetrius Kotokidis of the University of Oxford said: 'Figuring out who does well, and who does not, remains the biggest question in weight-loss research, but no one has an answer for that yet.'
