A new study has found that people who take weight loss drugs often regain lost weight and see a return of poor health markers in less than two years on average. Published in the BMJ, the research revealed that individuals not only put weight back on but also redeveloped high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The study showed that the average rate of weight regain after stopping treatment was 0.4 kg per month, with weight and risk markers for diabetes and heart disease predicted to return to pre-treatment levels in under two years. It also found that weight is regained almost four times faster after stopping drugs than after diet and exercise changes, regardless of how much weight was initially lost.
“This evidence suggests that despite their success in achieving initial weight loss, these drugs alone may not be sufficient for long-term weight control,” the researchers noted.
Although GLP-1 receptor agonists have become popular and transformed obesity treatment, roughly half of people discontinue the drugs within 12 months. A US researcher writing in a linked editorial said the findings cast doubt on the notion that these medications are a perfect cure for obesity.
He advised that individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists should be aware of the high discontinuation rates and the potential consequences of stopping treatment. “Healthy dietary and lifestyle practices should remain the foundation of weight loss management, with GLP-1 medications used as an aid,” he said. “Such practices not only help prevent excess weight gain but also provide numerous health benefits beyond weight control.”
