Oxford study finds people return to original weight within 18 months of stopping weight loss jabs
Research highlights the need for continued support post-treatment
A new study from the University of Oxford has revealed that significant weight regain is common after stopping widely used weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Dr Sam West, a post-doctoral researcher involved in the study, explained how these jabs are "transforming the treatment of obesity, with people losing between 15 and 20 per cent of their body weight during treatment."
However, he pointed out that around half of people discontinue the treatment within 12 months.
His team reviewed studies that tracked participants after stopping the medication to understand what happens next.
"When treated with these medications, people lost around 15 kilogrammes. But once the medications had stopped, people regained around 10 kilogrammes in the first year, and based on this trajectory of weight regain, they were estimated to reach their baseline weight within 18 months of finishing the treatment," Dr West said.
The research also examined the impact of weight fluctuations on cardio-metabolic health, such as blood sugar and blood pressure.
"These indicators of health all went down with weight loss, as you would expect, but they returned to baseline almost parallel with body weight," he added.
Dr West explained that the findings underline the challenges of maintaining weight loss over time.
"What our data have highlighted is that obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition that needs continued treatment," he said
The study also suggested that intensive behavioural support led to enhanced weight loss outcomes.
"People who were given intensive behavioural support during treatment lost an extra 4.6 kilogrammes compared to those who were provided with very little or no support at all," Dr West noted.
He stressed that while the research is not to discourage people from using weight loss jabs, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of the risks and support required for maintaining progress long-term.
"There are two key things that need to be highlighted: One is that once the medication is stopped, there is a high risk of fast weight regain afterward. The other is the importance of behavioural support and behaviour change during the treatment," he said.