People who come off slimming jabs regain weight four times faster than dieters
Recent research published in the British Medical Journal indicates that people discontinuing weight-loss injections like Wegovy or Mounjaro regain lost weight about four times faster than those stopping traditional dieting and exercise programs.
Participants on slimming jabs lost around 15-20% of their body weight during treatment, averaging 15 kg in trials with over 9,000 people. After stopping, they regained approximately 0.4-0.8 kg per month, returning to pre-treatment weight within 18-20 months. In contrast, traditional dieters regained weight much more slowly, maintaining losses for nearly four years on average.
Stopping the jabs also reversed gains in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, restoring pre-treatment risk levels for diabetes and heart disease. Researchers emphasize obesity as a chronic condition, suggesting prolonged medication or combined lifestyle support for sustained results.
Doctors call for more long-term studies on these GLP-1 drugs, noting high discontinuation rates (around 50% within a year) and questioning cost-effectiveness without ongoing use. Behavioral programs may offer better retention of weight loss over time.
