> At a Glance
> – People who quit GLP-1 drugs regain 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) monthly
> – All lost weight returns within two years
> – Regain speed nearly four times faster than after diet programs
> – Why it matters: Millions may face rapid rebound if they can’t stay on injections long-term
People celebrating shot-free weight maintenance may need to brace for a swift reversal. A sweeping new review shows that once weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide jabs stop, the scale quickly climbs back toward the starting line.
The Rebound Effect
Researchers at the University of Oxford pooled 37 trials covering 9,341 adults who had used branded drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound. Average treatment lasted 39 weeks; follow-up averaged 32 weeks after the final dose.
- Participants regained 0.4 kg each month post-cessation
- Speed of regain nearly quadrupled the rebound seen after lifestyle-based slim-down programs
- Cardiometabolic markers-blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol-were projected to return to pre-treatment levels within 1.4 years
Investigator Dr. Susan Jebb warned:
> “People buying these need to be aware of the risk of fast weight regain when the treatment ends.”
Study Limits & Outlook
Only eight of the reviewed studies focused on newer GLP-1 drugs, and the longest post-drug observation window was 12 months. Still, three separate statistical methods delivered consistent results, boosting confidence in the trend.
- Nearly half of users discontinue the injections within a year
- Rebound appears independent of how much weight was initially shed
- Data came from controlled trials, not routine care settings
Key Takeaways
- Stopping GLP-1 drugs triggers steady weight regain of about 0.4 kg per month
- Full rebound and return of heart and diabetes risk markers expected in under two years
- Regain pace is roughly four times faster than after diet-only programs
Anyone planning to pause or end the pricey weekly shots should prepare a long-term weight-maintenance strategy or expect the numbers on the scale to climb back quickly.
