From Shedding Pounds to Regaining Weight: The Reality of Obesity Drugs

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In the quest to conquer obesity, recent advancements have innovated groundbreaking weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The market for such drugs is valued at billions of dollars.

But a burning question lingers in the minds of many patients: What happens when they stop taking these medications?

A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), sheds light on this critical issue, revealing that weight regain after taking such drugs is a concerning pattern.

The focus of the study was on tirzepatide, the key ingredient in Eli Lilly's newly approved weight loss medication, Zepbound. Over a period of 36 weeks, the research observed 670 adults, predominantly women with an average age of 48, who achieved an impressive average weight loss of 20.9%.

But the real intrigue began when the participants were divided into two groups: one continuing with Zepbound and the other shifted to a placebo.

At the 88-week mark, those who were switched to the placebo had regained nearly half of the weight they had lost, leaving them just 9.9% below their starting weight. In contrast, participants who remained on Zepbound continued their weight loss journey, ending up 25.3% lighter than their initial weight.

This stark difference underscores a critical point: discontinuing these drugs can lead to significant weight regain.

The trial, led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, also highlighted the need for ongoing pharmacotherapy to maintain weight loss. The findings align with four previous trials that showed a substantial weight rebound after stopping treatment with potent anti-obesity medications like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.

These drugs, including Zepbound, Ozempic and Wegovy, belong to a class known as "GLP-1 agonists," which mimic the functions of certain hormones involved in insulin secretion, stomach emptying, and appetite suppression.

Dr. Jeff Emmick from Lilly commented on the study, emphasizing that obesity is a chronic condition often requiring continuous treatment. But concerns about the long-term use of these drugs persist, especially regarding the potential for gastrointestinal issues and the unknown long-term risks.