Overview
- An EClinicalMedicine meta-analysis of six trials (n=3,236) finds patients regain about 60% of lost weight one year after discontinuing semaglutide, tirzepatide or liraglutide.
- Modeled trajectories suggest regain may level off near 75% of the original weight loss, though this plateau is theoretical and long-term real-world data are lacking.
- On-treatment losses averaged roughly 11–17% with semaglutide and 15–23% with tirzepatide, but many users stop early due to gastrointestinal side effects, cost and restricted access.
- Ongoing studies are testing individualized dose-reduction strategies to maintain weight loss, with authors cautioning that fully stopping treatment may be unrealistic for many.
- A BMJ analysis of 606,434 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes associates GLP-1 therapy with lower incidence of substance-use disorders and, among those already affected, fewer emergency visits, overdoses and deaths.