Many individuals who have successfully lost weight using Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist drugs are finding it challenging to stop using the injectables. The BBC reports that the intense hunger often returns, leading to weight gain and suggesting that some patients may depend on these medications long-term.
Tanya Hall, a Wegovy user who has lost a significant amount of weight, shared her struggle. “For the first 38 years of my life, I was overweight — now I’m six stone (38kg) [83 pounds] lighter. So, there’s part of me that feels like there’s an addiction to keep it going because it makes me feel in control,” she said.
Research indicates that stopping these medications often leads to patients regaining much of the weight they lost. This situation has led to public figures like Oprah expressing their intentions to stay on the drugs indefinitely. She explained that treating obesity may require a lifelong commitment to these medications, similar to how she manages her high blood pressure.
For those who manage to come off the drugs, studies show they often regain about two-thirds of their lost weight. Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi noted cases where patients saw 60 to 80 percent of their weight return.
While this might feel discouraging, Al-Zubaidi believes there is hope. He suggests that patients should develop an “exit strategy,” focusing on healthier lifestyle changes while using the injectables. This can help maintain weight loss after stopping the drugs.
An example is Ellen Ogley, who reported a loss of 48.5 pounds while on Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drug, Mounjaro. She adapted her eating habits and started exercising, and even after being off the medication for a while, she has maintained her weight loss.
“I want people to know that life after Mounjaro can be sustainable as well,” she said.
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