Fresh analysis suggests that individuals who stop using new weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro may regain shed pounds far faster than those who halt traditional diet and exercise programs.
Published data in a prominent health publication points out that while overweight individuals often shed about a fifth of their body weight while undergoing treatment, the weight returns at an average rate of nearly a kilo each month upon discontinuation.
"Users buying such medications need to be cognizant of the danger of quick weight regain when the medication concludes," stated lead investigator Dr. Susan Jebb.
This pace of recovery implies a reversion to original mass in about one and a half years.
Comparing Approaches
The analysis, which looked at 37 of studies involving thousands of patients, compared the outcomes of the injectable medications with older methods.
The team note that individuals who lose weight through diet and exercise generally experience a slower creep back—around 100 grams monthly—once they finish.
Explaining the Fast Rebound
Doctors believe the mode of action of the injections is key to understanding the heightened rebound.
The injections copy a body's own chemical called glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate feelings of fullness.
"Artificially providing the hormone concentrations far above than normal might result in the system to generate a reduced amount of its endogenous GLP-1, and could diminish responsiveness to its actions," said Dr. Adam Collins, a dietetics expert.
"Discontinuation of this GLP-1 'fix' results in appetite is unsuppressed, making overeating far more likely."
A Lifelong Issue?
Health authorities recommend the jabs for people with obesity-related medical conditions, alongside prescribed lifestyle changes.
Many experts argue that, given the significant potential of relapse, the treatment is often ongoing.
This opinion is echoed by drug manufacturers, who say that the results "emphasize the chronic character of obesity," similar to managing diseases like hypertension.
Patient Accounts
People who have come off the jabs explain a intense resurgence of cravings.
"I experienced a switch flipping and I was suddenly starving," recalled one woman.
This difficulty is worsened if patients have not adopted permanent lifestyle or habit modifications during therapy.
Widespread Adoption
Survey data suggest that a significant number of people in the UK have used weight-loss jabs in the past year, with demand remaining high.
- Adoption is greater among women than males.
- The 40s and 50s age group shows the greatest level of interest.
- A large proportion obtain the drugs through private prescriptions rather than the NHS.
Finally, researchers caution that while the jabs are effective agents for shedding pounds, they are not a standalone cure and maintained weight loss relies on combined behavioural management.
