New research suggests that individuals who come off popular weight-loss injections like Mounjaro or Wegovy tend to recover shed pounds far faster than those who stop conventional lifestyle plans.
Research printed in a major health publication points out that while overweight individuals can lose substantial amounts of their body weight while undergoing treatment, the mass is regained at an average rate of nearly a kilo each month after stopping.
"People using these drugs must be informed of the risk of rapid rebound weight gain when the therapy ends," stated expert Dr. Susan Jebb.
Such speed of recovery suggests a return to pre-treatment mass within about a year and a half.
Weighing Therapies
The research, which looked at 37 of trials involving thousands of participants, contrasted the outcomes of these new drugs with conventional dieting.
The team emphasize that individuals who lose weight through lifestyle changes alone typically experience a less rapid creep back—approximately 0.1 kg a month—after stopping.
The Reason for the Rapid Rebound
Doctors propose the mode of action of the drugs is key to understanding the accelerated rebound.
GLP-1 drugs imitate a body's own chemical called GLP-1, which moderates feelings of fullness.
"Sustained high doses of the hormone levels far above than normal could lead to the system to produce less of its endogenous GLP-1, and may also reduce sensitivity to its effects," said Dr. Adam Collins, a dietetics researcher.
"Discontinuation of this GLP-1 'fix' leads to appetite is uncontrolled, making overeating much more probable."
A Lifelong Issue?
Health authorities recommend the jabs for individuals with weight-linked health risks, accompanied by recommended lifestyle changes.
Many experts contend that, due to the high risk of relapse, the treatment is often long-term.
This opinion is echoed by pharmaceutical companies, who say that the findings "emphasize the long-term nature of excess weight," akin to managing conditions like hypertension.
User Accounts
People who have discontinued the jabs describe a intense resurgence of hunger.
"It was like a switch flipping and I was suddenly starving," recalled a patient.
The struggle is exacerbated if users have not established sustainable dietary or behavioural changes during treatment.
Significant Use
Survey data show that a significant number of adults in the UK have tried weight-loss jabs in the past year, with interest continuing to grow.
- Adoption is more common among females than males.
- The middle-aged age group shows the highest level of interest.
- A large proportion access the medications through private prescriptions rather than public health services.
In conclusion, researchers caution that while the jabs are effective tools for shedding pounds, they are not a permanent cure and lasting health benefits likely depends on combined lifestyle changes.
