Dr. Magdalini Stefanou-Skourides*
Stopping pharmaceutical weight-loss injections is associated with rapid weight regain, at a rate that can be up to four times faster compared with weight regain after weight loss achieved through diet and physical activity, according to a large new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), one of the world’s most authoritative medical journals.
The study was based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from randomized clinical trials involving thousands of adults who received drug treatments for obesity, including injectable medications that act on GLP-1 receptors. These drugs reduce appetite and slow digestion, leading to significant weight loss for as long as the treatment continues. However, researchers found that after discontinuation of the medication, most participants began to regain a substantial portion of the lost weight within the following months.
According to the analysis, the average rate of weight regain after stopping the drugs was nearly four times higher than the corresponding rate observed after discontinuing interventions based solely on diet and physical activity, regardless of how much weight had initially been lost. Experts explain that this phenomenon is linked to the biological action of the drugs. While they are administered, hunger signals are suppressed and the feeling of fullness is enhanced.
After discontinuation, however, hormonal and metabolic mechanisms tend to return to the body’s previous “set point,” facilitating weight gain.The authors of the study emphasize that the findings do not call into question the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, which have helped many patients significantly reduce their weight and improve cardiometabolic health markers. Instead, they highlight the need to treat obesity as a chronic disease that requires a long-term management strategy. As with other chronic conditions, maintaining the therapeutic effect may require ongoing medication, permanent lifestyle changes, or a combination of both.
The researchers conclude that weight-loss injections alone do not constitute a permanent solution and that healthy eating and regular physical activity remain fundamental for long-term weight and health maintenance.
*Dr. Magdalini Stefanou-Skourides, Chiropractor, Dietitian