A landmark new study has revealed a significant concern surrounding the popular GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy: the health benefits they provide are not sustained after patients stop taking them. The research indicates that not only is lost weight regained, but crucial markers for heart and metabolic health also deteriorate back to pre-treatment levels.
The Rebound Effect: What the Study Found
Conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford, the study analysed data from various trials and observational studies. It found that after ceasing treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists, patients regained weight at an average rate of 0.4kg per month. Perhaps more critically, positive changes in risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease—such as improved cholesterol and blood pressure—reversed within two years of stopping the medication.
The rate of weight regain was shown to be almost four times faster than that observed after stopping diet and exercise programmes. This reversal occurred irrespective of how much weight was initially lost during the treatment phase. The study also highlighted that an estimated half of all people with obesity discontinue use of these drugs within 12 months, likely due to cost and side effects.
How GLP-1 Drugs Work and Their Limitations
GLP-1 medications, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, mimic a natural gut hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. They work by making users feel fuller for longer and can reduce cravings for high-sugar or high-fat foods. While effective for consistent weight loss and improving metabolic health, they are accompanied by common side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Experts stress that these drugs are not a standalone miracle cure. "They have already transformed how obesity is treated," says Tobi Thomas, the Guardian's health and inequality correspondent. "Being overweight was often framed as a failure of willpower... What's striking about GLP-1 inhibitors is how consistent the outcomes are across people." However, she emphasises that the biological focus should not eclipse the need for comprehensive support.
The Need for a Long-Term, Holistic Strategy
The findings clash with current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines, which recommend a maximum two-year usage due to ongoing evaluation of long-term effects. The study adds to evidence suggesting obesity may require chronic management. "GLP-1s are not something you can just prescribe and walk away from," Thomas explains. "They're a very physical intervention... there needs to be proper support alongside them."
Effective treatment, therefore, should integrate psychological support, nutritional guidance, and therapy to address the root causes of obesity and establish sustainable habits. Without this holistic approach, patients may simply eat smaller portions of unhealthy foods, failing to achieve lasting health change.
Further concerns arise from the burgeoning private market, where drugs can be obtained online without the strict NHS criteria. This shifts usage from a medical intervention to an aesthetic one, influenced by shifting beauty standards and celebrity culture. "That's a slippery slope," Thomas notes, "because women's bodies in particular end up being treated as trends, rather than something tied to long-term health and well-being."
The study underscores a critical public health dilemma: while GLP-1 drugs offer a powerful tool against an obesity crisis costing the UK economy an estimated £126bn annually, they are a treatment, not a cure. The path forward requires balancing their remarkable benefits with realistic, supported strategies for lifelong health.
