Source: Fox News
Summary
A new study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism offers a more hopeful perspective on what happens when patients stop taking injectable GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound. The study looked at nearly 8,000 adults in Ohio and Florida who used semaglutide or tirzepatide for three to 12 months before stopping. Unlike clinical trials, the researchers looked at “real-world” outcomes where patients often switch from one medication to another. Patients did not experience significant weight regain in the year after stopping a GLP-1. Among those treated specifically for obesity, the average weight loss before stopping was 8.4%; one year later, they had regained just 0.5% on average.
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The advice sounds familiar.
The study’s findings contradict previous clinical trials that suggested a discouraging “rebound” effect when patients stopped taking GLP-1 medications. The new study suggests that the rebound seen in clinical trials may be a result of patients being left without alternative support. Patients who maintained their weight tended to remain engaged with the healthcare system, whether through alternative prescriptions or structured lifestyle support. The study’s authors noted that some limitations to the study include the fact that patient characteristics and healthcare delivery patterns vary across the U.S.
It’s a familiar pattern: a new study offers a more hopeful perspective, only to be followed by another study that contradicts it.
Author: Evan Null
