Weight-loss injections could set off new kind of ‘yo-yo dieting’
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For many people living with obesity, newer weight-loss medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have been transformative. These drugs are often grouped under the label GLP-1 medicines because they mimic hormones released after eating, helping people feel fuller and less hungry. Mounjaro, whose active ingredient is tirzepatide, also acts on another hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.
At a time when more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity, these medicines are widely viewed as among the biggest advances in obesity treatment. But one important question is becoming harder to avoid: what happens when people stop taking them?
Evidence points to an uncomfortable answer. Many people regain a significant amount of the weight they have lost. A recent study found that, after people stopped weight-loss medications, weight and several heart health markers tended to move back towards pre-treatment levels over time. Other studies have found similar patterns after stopping semaglutide and tirzepatide.
This makes biological sense. These medicines work partly by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness. People often describe this as a reduction in “food noise”, meaning the intrusive thoughts, cravings or urges around eating that can make it difficult to eat less. When treatment stops, those drug effects fade. Hunger and cravings may return. If someone then consumes more...