People who stop taking weight loss jabs regain all the weight originally lost in under two years, significantly faster than those on other weight loss plans, according to a landmark study led by academics at the University of Oxford and published in the BMJ.
Weight loss medications, known as GLP-1 agonists, work by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide 1 hormone which helps people feel full. The study reviewed 37 existing studies involving 9,341 participants, finding that weight was regained at a rate of 0.4kg per month after stopping medication, with participants returning to their original weight within an average of 1.7 years.
The rate at which weight was regained after stopping these medications was almost four times faster compared with behavioural programmes, regardless of the amount of weight lost during treatment. Dr Sam West of the University of Oxford said the rapid weight gain was not due to the medication itself but reflects the nature of obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition.
Benefits on cardio-metabolic health markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, also returned to original levels within 1.4 years of stopping treatment. Experts including Dr Faye Riley of Diabetes UK and Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance emphasised that these drugs are not a quick fix and require wraparound support and improved food environments.
An NHS spokesperson said the treatments are not a magic fix and must be paired with behavioural and lifestyle support to keep the weight off long term. The study highlights the importance of primary prevention and comprehensive long-term weight management strategies.
