Hormonal
Discontinuation of incretin analogues (semaglutide, tirzepatide) leads to significant weight regain, with patients recovering approximately two-thirds of lost weight within one year.
If you stop taking semaglutide or tirzepatide, you will likely regain about two-thirds of the weight you lost within a year. This is because the medication's appetite-suppressing effects wear off. To maintain your weight loss, you likely need to continue the medication long-term under medical supervision.
In the STEP 1 extension trial, patients who stopped semaglutide regained approximately two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. Since all these drugs act through a similar mechanism, the risk of weight regain remains.
Why this rating
Based on extension trials (STEP 1 extension) which are robust but represent a subset of the total evidence base.
Source
Incretin Analogues for Weight Reduction in Non-Diabetic Obese: A Review of Liraglutide, Semaglutide, and Tirzepatide Beyond Glycemic Control
Krishna Nikhila Bonga et al. · Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal · 2026
DOI 10.5041/rmmj.10565
Related findings · Hormonal
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