Trending Now - Study Reveals Weight Regain After Discontinuing GLP-1 Drugs

WHO:

Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News chief medical correspondent

Researchers at Scripps Health

Patients involved in the studies (specific numbers provided)

WHAT:

A systematic review published in the journal eClinicalMedicine analyzed 48 studies on GLP-1 medications.

Patients who stopped taking GLP-1 medications regained about 60% of the weight lost within one year.

Computer statistical modeling suggested that patients could regain about 75% of the weight lost after more than a year off the medications.

A study at Scripps Health found that patients who switched to a reduced dosing schedule maintained their weight loss and improved health markers.

The Scripps study tracked 30 people, with 21 on tirzepatide and 9 on semaglutide.

The average length of follow-up in the Scripps study was 36 weeks.

Only five patients in the Scripps study had a slight weight regain, with the largest increase being eight pounds.

WHERE:

The studies were published in the journals eClinicalMedicine and Obesity.

Scripps Health is the organization conducting the research.

WHEN:

The systematic review was published on March 4, 2026.

The Scripps study was published last week (exact date not specified, but implies late February 2026).

WHY:

The analysis underscores the need for an individualized approach to weight loss.

The Scripps study aimed to explore whether reduced dosing could provide the same benefits for patients who reached a weight plateau.

HOW:

The systematic review analyzed data from 48 studies involving people with diabetes or obesity who took GLP-1 medications.

The Scripps study involved patients who were offered a chance to taper their medication after reaching a weight plateau, with some switching to dosing every two weeks or longer intervals.

A recent systematic review published on March 4 in the journal eClinicalMedicine analyzed 48 studies on GLP-1 medications, revealing that patients who stopped taking these drugs regained about 60% of the weight lost within a year, with projections suggesting a potential 75% regain after more than a year off. Meanwhile, a study conducted at Scripps Health, which tracked 30 patients over an average of 36 weeks, found that those who switched to a reduced dosing schedule maintained their weight loss and improved health markers, with only five experiencing slight weight regain. This research highlights the importance of an individualized approach to weight loss, particularly for those who have reached a plateau.