Summary
A new BMJ study warns Canadians that stopping weight loss medications like semaglutide leads to rapid weight regain. Crucially, improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol also vanished quickly. The research suggests these drugs require long-term use or integrated lifestyle support, as weight regain happens significantly faster than with traditional diet and exercise programs alone.
If you feel like you can’t go a day without hearing about weight loss medication like Ozempic or Mounjaro, you’re not alone. These medications have transformed how we approach weight management, helping many Canadians shed pounds that previously felt permanent.
But a major new study published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal) suggests there is a significant catch: once the patient stops the weight loss medication, the weight, and the health risks, tend to return with surprising speed.
What happens when the prescription ends?
Researchers from the University of Oxford conducted a massive review of 37 different clinical trials involving over 9,000 participants. They wanted to see what happens to the human body in the months and years after someone stops taking weight management medications.
The findings were clear: weight loss drugs are highly effective while you take them, but they aren’t a “one-and-done” fix.
The numbers behind the regain
For those of us looking to keep the weight off and maintain our health into our 50s, 60s, and beyond, the study highlights a few “red flags” regarding the cessation of these drugs:
- The Rapid Return: On average, people who stopped the medication regained about 0.4 kg (nearly 1 lb) per month.
- The Timeline: Most participants returned to their original starting weight within just 1.7 years of stopping the drugs.
- The “New Drug” Effect: For the newest and most popular class of drugs (like semaglutide and tirzepatide), the regain was even faster—roughly 0.8 kg (1.7 lbs) per month.
- Health Benefits Vanish: It’s not just about the scale. Improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar (HbA1c) were projected to disappear within roughly 16 months of the last dose.
Meds vs. lifestyle: a surprising comparison
One of the most interesting parts of the study compared drug-based weight loss to traditional “behavioural” programs (like supervised dieting and exercise).
The researchers found that while people lose more weight on medications, they also regain it faster once the program ends compared to those who lost weight through lifestyle changes alone.
Why the difference? Experts suggest that lifestyle-based programs help people build “coping skills” and habits that stay with them. Medications, while powerful, work by chemically suppressing appetite; when that chemical signal is gone, the hunger returns, often before the person has developed new long-term habits.
What this means for you
If you are currently taking weight loss medication or considering it, this study offers some vital perspective for your next doctor’s visit:
- Obesity is a Chronic Condition: Much like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, the study suggests that for many, obesity requires long-term management. These drugs may be a lifelong commitment rather than a short-term “reset.”
- Don’t Abandon the Basics: Because the “snap-back” is so fast, it is more important than ever to focus on strength training and healthy eating habits while on the medication. This may help cushion the blow if you ever need to stop.
- Have an “Exit Plan”: If you plan to stop the medication (due to cost, side effects, or reaching a goal), talk to your healthcare provider about a “step-down” plan that includes increased lifestyle support to help keep the weight off.
These new medications are a powerful tool in the Canadian health toolkit, but how they are used requires scrutiny. To keep the heart-health benefits and the weight loss for the long haul, we may need to adopt strategies that combine the power of the medication with lifestyle adjustments.
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