Study Warns Weight-Loss Drugs Don’t Deliver Lasting Results Alone
13 Jan 2026
The review examined 37 studies involving more than 9,000 participants who used weight-loss drugs for at least two months, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. Researchers found that after treatment stopped, patients regained weight at an average rate of 0.4 kilograms per month, with many returning to their starting weight in under two years.
The analysis also showed that health markers linked to diabetes and heart disease reverted to pre-treatment levels within the same period. For GLP-1 medicines specifically, follow-up data was available for up to 52 weeks after discontinuation, with longer-term outcomes projected from that data.
Researchers found weight regain after stopping medication occurred at a rate almost four times faster than weight regained following diet and physical activity changes alone, regardless of how much weight was initially lost.
The authors cautioned against relying on weight-loss drugs as a short-term solution, noting that while effective initially, medications alone are unlikely to support long-term weight control. They called for further research into sustainable, cost-effective strategies and reinforced the importance of prevention.
Dr Trevor Steward, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne, said the findings align with what many clinicians observe in practice, particularly as patients stop treatment due to cost, side effects, or the burden of ongoing injections.
He said medications should not be viewed as a standalone fix, highlighting the need for clearer guidance on transitioning off treatment and the role of lifestyle and psychological support in maintaining benefits.
The findings come as global use of weight-loss medications continues to grow. In the United States, one in eight people has used injectable GLP-1 drugs, while in Australia hundreds of thousands access them privately at a cost of up to $5,000 a year.
With the Federal Government considering adding GLP-1 medicines for weight loss to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, following a recommendation to list semaglutide (Wegovy), researchers say the study has important policy implications.
Associate Professor Dominika Kwasnicka, also from the University of Melbourne, said expanding access without long-term care planning risks short-lived benefits and loss of health gains once treatment stops.
She said the findings support integrating medication into comprehensive, long-term models of care, including behavioural support, continuity of care, and realistic discussions about treatment duration, rather than treating weight-loss drugs as temporary solutions.
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Source: University of Melbourne / International Journal of Obesity / newsGP