Fresh analysis suggests that individuals who come off popular slimming jabs like Mounjaro or Wegovy tend to recover lost weight far faster than those who stop traditional lifestyle plans.
Published data in a major medical journal demonstrates that while overweight people often shed substantial amounts of their body weight while undergoing treatment, the mass returns at an estimated rate of nearly a kilo each month upon discontinuation.
"People buying these drugs should be cognizant of the risk of quick rebound weight gain when the treatment ends," cautioned lead investigator Dr. Susan Jebb.
Such speed of recovery means a reversion to starting weight in about a year and a half.
Comparing Treatments
The research, which looked at dozens of trials involving thousands of patients, contrasted the results of the injectable medications with conventional dieting.
Scientists note that individuals who lose weight through dieting generally experience a less rapid creep back—approximately 100 grams monthly—once they finish.
Understanding the Rapid Rebound
Nutrition scientists suggest the mechanism of the drugs accounts for the accelerated rebound.
GLP-1 drugs copy a natural hormone called GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite.
"Artificially providing GLP-1 concentrations several times higher than normal could lead to the body to generate a reduced amount of its endogenous hormone, and could reduce responsiveness to its actions," explained Dr. Adam Collins, a nutrition researcher.
"Stopping of this hormone supplement leads to appetite is no longer kept in check, making excessive eating much more probable."
A Lifelong Condition?
The NHS recommend the injections for individuals with obesity-related health risks, alongside recommended diet and exercise modifications.
Many experts contend that, due to the significant potential of relapse, the therapy should be considered long-term.
This perspective is echoed by drug manufacturers, who say that the findings "highlight the long-term nature of obesity," comparing it to managing conditions like high blood pressure.
User Experiences
Users who have discontinued the medication report a powerful return of hunger.
"It was like a trigger activating and I was suddenly starving," said a patient.
The struggle is worsened if users have not established sustainable dietary or behavioural changes during therapy.
Widespread Interest
Figures show that millions of people in the UK have tried weight-loss jabs in the last 12 months, with interest continuing to grow.
- Use is higher among females compared to men.
- The middle-aged age group shows the highest level of interest.
- A large proportion obtain the drugs through private healthcare rather than the NHS.
Ultimately, experts emphasize that while GLP-1 drugs are powerful agents for weight loss, they are not a magic solution and long-term success likely depends on ongoing lifestyle support.
