How long do most people stay on weight-loss medications before stopping?
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Ozempic and similar GLP-1 weight-loss medications are intended to be long-term treatments, but a recent JAMA Network Open study found that the vast majority of people stop taking them within two years. Cost was a major factor in discontinuation, with higher-income individuals more likely to stay on the medication. Gastrointestinal side effects also contributed to people stopping treatment. In many cases, discontinuation was followed by weight regain and a loss of earlier health benefits, such as improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels. As a result, clinicians are increasingly questioning how sustainable these medications are, and what impact stopping them might have on long-term health.
Source
Rodriguez PJ, Zhang V, Gratzl S, et al. Discontinuation and Reinitiation of Dual-Labeled GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among US Adults With Overweight or Obesity. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(1):e2457349. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57349
Additional Reading
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/long-people-stay-ozempic-stop-2-years-analysis-shows-rcna161216
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240521-what-happens-when-you-stop-taking-ozempic