stopping weight loss drugs led to more weight gain than natural weight loss solutions, study says
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on average, people who stopped taking glp-1s regained roughly 10 pounds in the first year.
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glp-1 medications have gained significant traction in the medical community, both for helping people living with obesity lose weight and for other benefits, including improved kidney, liver, and heart health.
however, according to a new study, when those who take the drug to treat obesity stop the medication, they gain weight faster than those who took the diet and exercise route toward weight loss.
the study
to compare the effects of stopping glp-1s versus diet and exercise plans, researchers at the university of oxford conducted randomized and observational studies involving over 6,000 people with obesity or overweight. they also examined 3,000 people in behavioural weight-management plans that included diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications to shed pounds.
when both groups stopped their weight-loss plans, either medication or lifestyle changes, the studies found that weight regain happened faster in the weight loss medication group.
those in the glp-1 groups gained, on average, 0.8 pounds per month, for a total of almost 10 pounds in the first year, whereas those on behavioural weight-loss plans lost an average of 0.6 pounds per month, for a total of 7 pounds in the first year.
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health risk markers were also estimated, with people who stopped taking weight loss drugs expected to experience the same level of risk for things such as diabetes and heart disease as they had prior to starting the drugs.
weight loss measures are a lifelong treatment for obesity
since both groups regained weight in the first year, the research shows that both drugs for obesity, as well as behavioural and lifestyle changes, aren’t temporary. however, for people on the medication, the consequences of stopping the drug might be more significant than if people revert to prior lifestyle habits when trying to treat their obesity naturally.
since obesity is a chronic disease like any other, these results reinforce that the changes made to treat it are the same that will be needed to maintain it: glp-1s aren’t a quick fix; they are the long-term medical solution.
the issue that lies with taking weight loss medications for many people is the side effects, along with high costs, which make it challenging to stay on the medication for long periods of time.
another study looked at adherence to glp-1 medications among people with obesity and found that more than half of adults who take the medication for diabetes stop their treatment plan within a year.
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the benefits, once the medication is stopped, are quickly negated, and people face the same issues they experienced prior to starting, including increased appetite and reduced satiety signals.
addressing obesity from various angles
the study results show that addressing obesity must come from multiple angles: medications, behavioural, and lifestyle components. because if people stop the drugs and they regain the weight, they’ll be back at square one.
one way to encourage better adherence is to also incorporate coping skills in people who take glp-1s. when people try to lose weight through natural methods, they are often taught skills to manage hunger during weight loss, whereas a strictly medical approach doesn’t.
combining medication with these supports that help people in behavioural lifestyle programs only can make it better for people who cannot afford and cannot tolerate glp-1s.
things are changing in the glp-1 game, though, with newer medications being made that could provide better access financially, as well as reduce the side effects that many experience, which leads to stopping the medication.
insurance providers adding behavioural programs to their coverage can also help people living with obesity so they can participate in various aspects of care, fostering better weight loss success and reduced health risks associated with obesity.
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essentially, long-term treatment, regardless of whether it comes from medications, behavioural modifications, or both, is required for people living with obesity because short-term changes are not the answer and will not provide long-lasting results.
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