Weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have become a central part of the treatment of obesity. Many patients experience rapid and significant weight loss.
A new scientific analysis published in The BMJ suggests, however, that the picture changes when treatment stops.
According to researchers from the University of Oxford, it is precisely the period after discontinuation that raises concern.
What happens afterward?
The analysis is based on 37 studies involving a total of 9,341 adult participants who used approved weight-loss medications.
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The researchers examined how weight and health develop once the medication is no longer used.
The results show that many people regain weight relatively quickly. On average, body weight increases by about 0.4 kilograms per month after treatment stops.
Overall, the researchers estimate that body weight often returns to its starting point in less than two years.
Health benefits fade
It is not only weight that changes. Improvements in factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure also diminish once the medication is discontinued.
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According to the researchers, this reversal occurs more quickly than after weight loss achieved through diet and exercise alone.
The Oxford researchers emphasize that these changes have implications for the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
A clear message
The researchers conclude that the medication has a clear effect, but that it is rarely sufficient on its own. Medical treatment should instead be viewed as a supplement.
According to both researchers and health experts, diet, exercise, and prevention should continue to form the foundation of obesity treatment.
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Sources: Science Daily, and The BMJ.
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