People Who Stop Taking Weight Loss Shots Regain The Weight In Under Two Years, New Study Says 

According to a new study led by academics at the University of Oxford and published in the British Medical Journal, people who stop taking weight loss shots regain all the weight they originally lost in under two years. This is significantly faster than those on any other weight loss plan. 

Weight loss medications, commonly referred to as GLP-1 agonists, were initially developed as a treatment for diabetes and work by imitating the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 hormone which helps people feel fuller. 

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The study included a review of 37 existing studies that looked at weight loss medication, all of which involved 9,341 participants. The average duration of weight loss treatment was 39 weeks with an average follow up period of 32 weeks. 

On average, weight was regained at a rate of .88 pounds per month for people who stopped taking the medication. Participants returned to their original weight within about 1.7 years. 

People on any kind of weight loss medication lost an average of about 18 pounds during treatment, but regained around 10 pounds within the first year, according to reports. 

The rate in which weight was regained after stopping medication was almost four times faster when compared to other programs that focus on diet and exercise. 

Dr Sam West, of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, said “the rapid weight gain seen after stopping weight loss drugs was not due to the medication itself,” according to the Guardian. 

“These medicines are transforming obesity treatment and can achieve important weight loss. However, our research shows that people tend to regain weight rapidly after stopping – faster than we see with behavioural programs.”

“This isn’t a failure of the medicines – it reflects the nature of obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition. It sounds a cautionary note for short-term use without a more comprehensive approach to long-term weight management, and highlights the importance of primary prevention,” he stated. 

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Other studies have suggested that people on weight loss drugs regain all the weight that they lost within a year, however, this marks the first study that shows a rate of weight regain. 

“Weight loss drugs can be effective tools for managing weight and type 2 diabetes risk – but this research reinforces that they are not a quick fix,” according to Dr Faye Riley, the research communications lead at Diabetes UK.

“They need to be prescribed appropriately, with tailored wraparound support alongside them, to ensure people can fully benefit and maintain weight loss for as long as possible when they stop taking the medication.”

Katharine Jenner, the executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “regaining weight after stopping treatment was not a failure of individuals, but rather reflects the reality of living in a food environment that continually pushes people towards unhealthy options.”

“These drugs can create a window of opportunity to improve the food environment at scale and pace – from junk food marketing to the affordability and availability of healthier food – otherwise many people will struggle to sustain the health benefits of weight loss drugs over the long term,” Jenner said.

An NHS spokesperson stated: 

“While these new treatments are an important new tool for supporting weight loss, they’re not a magic fix and must be paired with behavioural and lifestyle wraparound support including advice on healthier diets and physical activity to keep the weight off in the long term.

“The NHS continues to implement innovative ways to support people to lose weight safely and sustainably as well as offering a range of weight management services, including the NHS digital weight management programme, which will be expanded to 125,000 more people per year as part of the 10-year health plan.”