After discontinuing GLP-1 medications, clinical trial participants experienced significant weight regain at week 8 that continued through week 20 before stabilizing. 

A new study published Tuesday in BMC Medicine explored the long-term effects of six weight loss medications (orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide and phentermine-topiramate) using a meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials that tracked body weight and BMI data from over 2,400 participants. 

The authors call for studies with longer follow-up duration to investigate the factors associated with weight change after stopping an anti-obesity medication (termed “weight cycling”), which may include the type of medication and consistency of lifestyle change.