According to a new study, a straightforward outpatient procedure could help many individuals who stop using popular weight-loss medications avoid regaining the weight they lost.
GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, have revolutionized diabetes management and weight loss, with estimates suggesting that approximately one in eight Americans might be using these treatments.
The use of these medications is anticipated to grow, particularly as some are now available in pill form.
Originally designed to manage blood sugar levels in diabetics, these drugs have gained popularity among those looking to lose weight, enabling users to shed between 15 and 20 percent of their body weight.
However, recent investigations indicate that many patients who cease using these medications after achieving their desired weight end up regaining nearly two-thirds of what they lost.
A groundbreaking clinical trial has now demonstrated a safe and effective way for individuals to maintain weight loss without relying on drugs after discontinuing GLP-1 treatments.
“While GLP-1 medications are very effective, a lot of people stop taking them due to costs, side effects, or just a desire not to stay on medication long-term,” said Dr. Shelby Sullivan from the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.
“However, when they stop these medications, the majority tend to regain weight, and the metabolic advantages diminish,” Dr. Sullivan added.
The new procedure, known as duodenal mucosal resurfacing, is minimally invasive and has potential for long-term weight-loss maintenance, according to researchers.
This technique utilizes targeted heat to treat the unhealthy inner lining of the duodenum, which is the upper section of the small intestine situated just below the stomach.
During the ongoing trial, scientists are investigating whether this procedure can promote the growth of new, healthy tissue, leading to a sustained metabolic reset.
The tissues involved usually produce hormones that GLP-1 drugs mimic.
Typically, high-fat diets can alter this tissue layer, changing how the gut reacts to food.
By revitalizing this layer, the procedure seems to reset a person’s metabolism to align with their new weight after stopping GLP-1 use.
The initial outcomes from trial participants are being presented this week at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026.
The study included six months of follow-up data, indicating the procedure’s durability in maintaining weight loss.
Out of the 45 participants involved, 29 underwent the endoscopic process while 16 received a sham treatment.
All participants lost at least 15 percent of their total weight using the GLP-1 drug tirzepatide before stopping the medication.
Six months after discontinuing the drug, those in the sham group regained 40 percent more weight than those who underwent the procedure.
In contrast, individuals who had the endoscopic treatment only regained about seven pounds, preserving over 80 percent of their weight loss.
The gap between the two groups appears to be widening from one to six months post-treatment.
“What’s encouraging is that the benefits seem to grow over time rather than diminish, behaving in a way similar to a drug in terms of dose response,” Dr. Sullivan noted, expressing confidence that they are targeting the correct biological mechanisms.
“Recovery is quick—most are back to their daily activities within a day. Participants often couldn’t distinguish between the sham treatment and the real procedure because symptoms are minimal afterward,” he said.
