While weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro deliver rapid results, new research suggests those results may not last. A new study from the University of Oxford’s Biomedical Research Center found that patients who stop using these medications often return to their original weight within two years.
As first reported by People, researchers reviewed 7,944 titles and abstracts to assess the long-term effectiveness of weight loss drugs. They found the weight rebound was more common and more pronounced with newer GLP-1 medications.
For patients who stopped taking older weight loss drugs, the weight typically returned in about one year.
Moreover, the study found the returning weight was faster after stopping medications than after ending behavioral interventions like dieting. Researchers suggest the pharmacological effects of these drugs are not easily sustained without continued use.
Long-term safety remains uncertain
Dr. Chun-Su Yuan, Cyrus Tang Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Chicago, said in a report that it’s “important to note that the long-term side effects of these drugs are not yet well-studied.”
“If large swathes of the general public start taking them off-label for weight loss and then we find out years later that there are bad side effects, it could be a real issue,” Yuan wrote.
According to Harvard Health, the most common short-term side effects of GLP-1 drugs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
They also highlight “Ozempic face” — the facial fat loss that leads to wrinkles, hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes. In more severe cases, these symptoms may require cosmetic treatment.
Other potential risks include vision loss
In February, Straight Arrow News highlighted another study linked semaglutide and tirzepatide — the active ingredients in Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound — to possible vision complications.
That research focused on eye conditions emerging in patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists, though more research is needed to confirm the connection.
How long does the average person take weight loss drugs for?
The Mayo Clinic noted that health care providers typically recommend using these medications for at least 12 to 24 months as part of a chronic weight management plan. Some patients may begin seeing results within the first four weeks of treatment with semaglutide.
While popularized as weight loss drugs, Wegovy or Ozempic were initially intended to address another condition. The FDA approved Ozempic and Mounjaro for managing blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. These drugs work by increasing insulin production and slowing digestion.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy have also shown promise in reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in people with obesity or diabetes. Early studies are exploring semaglutide’s potential to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients.
Weight loss medications represent a powerful new frontier in treating obesity and chronic conditions. But experts said patients should speak with health care providers to carefully weigh the benefits and risks, especially as long-term effects continue to be studied.
contributed to this report.
