Stopping GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can lead to rapid weight gain. What does it mean for your health if you stop using them?
Research shows that people who take GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, known for helping with weight loss, often regain the weight they lost within 1.5 years after stopping the medication. They returned to their original weight and regained it four times faster than those who relied solely on diet and exercise, noted a peer-reviewed study. The January 2026 study examined 37 studies that followed 9,300 participants using 13 weight-loss medications.
After people stopped using weight-loss drugs, they not only regained the weight but also returned to their original levels of important health markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, about 17 months later.
Sam West, a physiology researcher at Oxford University, co-wrote a study about weight-loss drugs. He told The Washington Post that people who took popular weight-loss medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide (branded as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound), typically lost about 33 pounds during treatment. However, after stopping the drugs, they typically regained around 22 pounds (about 10 kg) within the first year. He noted, “What was particularly striking in our data was just how fast it was regained.”
Out of 9,288 titles reviewed, only 37 studies were included. These studies had an average treatment duration of 39 weeks and a follow-up period of 32 weeks. On average, participants regained 0.4 kg per month after stopping treatment. It is expected that all cardiometabolic markers will return to their original levels within 1.4 years after people stop using GLP-1 drugs.
How does GLP-1 actually make you lose weight?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) helps control blood sugar levels. It does this by increasing insulin secretion, decreasing glucagon secretion (which raises blood sugar), and slowing the rate at which food leaves your stomach. This leads to a feeling of fullness and less hunger.
Millions of people use GLP-1 drugs because they effectively reduce food cravings, slow digestion, and help you feel full longer. However, there hasn’t been much research on what happens when people stop taking these drugs.
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