A new study reveals that a simple outpatient procedure may help prevent weight regain in people who stop taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. These medications have helped many patients lose 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight, but research shows that nearly two-thirds of lost pounds are regained after discontinuation.
The procedure, called duodenal mucosal resurfacing, uses targeted heat to burn the unhealthy inner lining of the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine. This stimulates the growth of new, healthy tissue and resets the metabolism to the patient's new post-GLP-1 weight, according to scientists from the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.
Results from the first group of 45 trial participants, presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026, show that six months after stopping the drug tirzepatide, those who underwent the procedure regained only seven pounds, maintaining over 80 per cent of their weight loss. In contrast, those who received a sham treatment regained 40 per cent more weight.
Dr Shelby Sullivan, who led the study, noted that the benefit appears to increase over time and that patients can return to their daily routine within about a day. The procedure offers a safe and effective way to maintain drug-free weight loss, addressing common reasons for stopping GLP-1 drugs such as cost, side effects, or a desire to avoid long-term medication.
