People who stop taking weight loss jabs regain all the weight originally lost in under two years, significantly faster than those on any other weight loss plan, according to a landmark study led by academics at the University of Oxford and published in the BMJ.
The study, which reviewed 37 existing studies involving 9,341 participants, found that on average, 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. Those on weight loss medication lost an average of 8.3kg during treatment but regained 4.8kg within the first year.
The rate of weight regain 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 regain was not due to the medication itself but reflected the chronic nature of obesity.
The study also found that benefits on cardio-metabolic health markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, returned to their original level within 1.4 years of stopping treatment. Dr Faye Riley of Diabetes UK said the drugs are not a quick fix and need to be prescribed with wraparound support.
Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance said regaining weight after stopping treatment reflects the food environment that pushes people towards unhealthy options. An NHS spokesperson said the drugs must be paired with behavioural and lifestyle support to keep weight off long term.
