New study reveals weight regain after stopping weight loss drugs
Ed Milner | Last update: 5th June 2025
They’ve helped millions shed pounds, but what happens after the injections stop? A new wave of studies shows that most people regain weight within two years of quitting weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro. Here’s what you need to know, and how to stay in control after treatment ends.
TL;DR:
- Most people regain weight within 1-2 years of stopping GLP-1 weight loss drugs
- New research from the University of Oxford shows long-term maintenance requires real lifestyle changes
- The drugs help reset your appetite and eating habits, but the effort to maintain weight is ongoing
- Weight regain isn’t failure, it’s a reminder that health is a long game
- SlimrChat says: these drugs are a launchpad, not a forever solution
The data is in: weight regain is likely after stopping
A major new meta-analysis by the University of Oxford has confirmed what many healthcare professionals suspected: most users of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), begin to regain weight within 10 to 24 months after stopping treatment.
The analysis reviewed data from 18 long-term clinical studies and real-world observational reports, all tracking patients for at least a year post-treatment. The conclusion? For most people, the weight gradually returns — often back to baseline.
“These drugs are extremely effective while you’re taking them,” said Professor Susan Jebb, co-author of the Oxford study. “But stopping them doesn’t mean the effects are permanent.”
🔗 Read more in The Guardian
Why does the weight come back?
Here’s the truth: weight loss drugs aren’t magic. They suppress appetite, reduce cravings, and help you feel full faster — but when the medication stops, your natural biology returns.
Without continued lifestyle changes like:
- Eating nutrient-dense, lower-calorie meals
- Staying active regularly
- Prioritising sleep and stress management
…the body gradually reverts to its original set point. Hunger hormones can spike. Old eating patterns can resurface. And if nothing replaces the structure the drug provided, weight regain is common.
🔗 Oxford study summary in Economic Times
Does that mean the drugs didn’t work?
Absolutely not.
These drugs do something incredibly powerful: they give people the chance to reset.
> To lose significant weight, often for the first time in years.
> To build new routines while food noise is low.
> To move more freely. To feel healthier and more confident.
But they don’t replace effort. And they don’t make change permanent unless you continue the work after the jabs end.
SlimrChat’s take: it’s not about staying on the drugs forever
At SlimrChat, we believe weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda and Mounjaro are tools — not lifelong solutions.
✅ They can help you reach a healthier weight
✅ They reduce hunger, improve blood sugar and support lifestyle change
✅ They’re a bridge to a healthier, more sustainable routine
But you still have to cross that bridge. If you stop the drugs but go back to old habits, your body will respond accordingly, just like it always has.
🔗 Read: How much weight will I lose on weight loss drugs?
The takeaway: use the time on the drug wisely
Use your treatment phase to do the following:
🔁 Build a meal routine that suits your energy levels and appetite
🏃 Find movement you enjoy (even walking counts!)
🧠 Reflect on emotional eating triggers and start replacing habits
🧂 Don’t just lose weight, build a lifestyle that will support keeping it off
You don’t need to fear the end of the drug. But you do need a plan.