Overview
- The University of Oxford’s BMJ review of 37 trials with over 9,000 participants found an average 8.3 kg loss on treatment, about 4.8 kg regained within a year of stopping, and a return to baseline weight in roughly 1.7 years, with cardiometabolic gains fading by about 1.4 years.
- Patients who discontinue GLP-1 drugs describe a rapid surge in appetite and powerful hunger within days, consistent with the medications’ appetite-suppressing mechanism.
- Large real-world analyses show high one-year discontinuation, including about 60% of Americans 65 and older with diabetes stopping semaglutide and 47%–65% stopping across broader cohorts.
- Common reasons for stopping include gastrointestinal side effects, out-of-pocket costs and coverage denials, and prior supply shortages, with clinicians also flagging muscle loss concerns in older adults.
- Experts advise tapering rather than abrupt cessation and pairing medication with nutrition counseling, strength training, and behavioral support, as policy discussions continue over Medicare coverage rules and future price negotiations.