Study finds weight quickly returns after stopping anti-obesity drugs

People who stop taking weight loss jabs regain all the weight originally lost in under two years, significantly faster than those on any other weight loss plan, according to a landmark study by the scientists of the University of Oxford, The Guardian writes.

Weight loss medications, known as GLP-1 agonists, were originally developed as treatment for diabetes and work by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 hormone which helps people feel full.

Dr Sam West, of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, said the rapid weight gain seen after stopping weight loss drugs was not due to the medication itself.

He added: “This isn’t a failing of the medicines – it reflects the nature of obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition. It sounds a cautionary note for short-term use without a more comprehensive approach to long-term weight management, and highlights the importance of primary prevention.”