Weight Regain
Users on Reddit report varied experiences with weight regain after discontinuing GLP-1 medications. Many express concerns about or have directly experienced regaining lost weight, while others have successfully maintained their weight loss or even continued to lose weight. The primary recommendations for preventing regain revolve around sustained lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, and some users suggest a maintenance dose of the medication.
Experiences with Weight Regain:
A user who lost 32 lbs on compounded Semaglutide reported, "Since then I regained 23lbs over 6 months. " They added, "Now that I've been off it for a while, I find it much harder to stick to my caloric requirements as I'm constantly thinking about what I can eat for the day and almost never feel full. "[3]
One individual mentioned, "I quit using glp1 after I hit my goal because of the side affects. My goal was 25lbs, I gained 20 back after about 6 months. "[4]
Someone who was on Wegovy for a year and lost 60 pounds said, "I was holding the line for a couple of months afterwards by doing intermittent fasting but then the food noise hit me hard and my weight started to creep up again. As I grew more frustrated I started spiraling and getting depressed about having erased all of my progress, which lead to me reverting to a lot of my crappy eating habits. "[5]
Another user experienced significant regain: "when you stop the shot, the hunger comes back. i lost 55 lbs on ozempic, insurance stopped covering it. gained 85 lbs back. "[6]
A user who stopped Ozempic due to side effects described an intense experience: "When I got off Ozempic my body took me for a RIDE. Despite having a solid gym routine and super healthy food habits for the previous year+, within a few months I gained all the weight back, plus some. My hormones went bananas and I felt like I was starving all. the. time... My cravings came back 10x... It was like I was possessed- they literally overrode my conscious thoughts and intentions. "[7]
A user who took Wegovy for 4 months and lost 40lbs stated, "After I stopped, it took about 1-2 months for my body to feel completely back to the way it operated previously (food noise and intense hunger pangs even when I had objectively eaten more than enough), and I gained back all 40lbs within probably 6-8 months after stopping. "[8]
One user noted, "In general most people regain 2/3rds of the weight lost within 2-3 months of discontinuing the meds. "[9] Another cited a study suggesting "80-90% gained back all the weight or more after stopping GLP1s. "[10]
A user who was on Ozempic for a year, took a few months off and "gained that 20 back and 10 more. "[11]
Experiences with Maintaining Weight Loss or Minimal Regain:
Another user who stopped Semaglutide after 18 months said, "Food noise definitely came back and I was eating more food because my desire to eat came back. That being said, I would expect anyone to gain a few pounds back and I did, about 5 lbs, but it’s been 8 months since I stopped. I just continue to be very intentional in my food choices, but the real key is that I always eat small portions. "[13]
A user who was on GLP-1s intermittently reported, "I've had no weight gain. It actually feels like my stomach has shrunk. I can't eat a lot even if I wanted to. "[14]
One user who lost 35 lbs on a GLP-1 gained back 7 lbs after stopping, stating, "I also wouldn’t call it ‘quick weight loss’ as it took me 6 months and was slow and steady. Everyone says it’s a ‘med for life’ but it’s absolutely not if you are younger, especially if you are using it in advance of trying to conceive (amazing btw). "[15]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
"You NEED to go into it thinking \"this is to help me get started, but i have to do all the hard work myself\" if you want to keep it off. "[16]
"It’s great until you get off it and realized that you didnt change your lifestyle, you just added a medication and gain it back. "[17]
"Use it, learn proper eating habits and work yourself off of it. "[18]
One user who maintained weight loss after stopping said, "Been off for 4 months... Haven’t gained any back but it takes a concerted effort to not revert to bad eating habits. Drinking water, diet soda, tea when cravings hit, also being very conscious of hunger and fullness cues. "[19]
A user who successfully kept weight off after stopping Victoza mentioned they "did taper off it by every other day use. " [20]
It's suggested that if you "stay low carb, no sweets no processed foods it shouldn't" [return]. [21]
Focusing on muscle building and protein intake while on the medication is also recommended: "She basically explained that the mounjaro is “doing the cardio for me” and to focus more on muscle building and less intensive forms of exercise. So walking and weight resistance. If you lose too much weight too fast you can also start losing muscle. Thats why it’s super important to eat protein. "[22]
Maintenance Dose: Many users believe GLP-1s are a lifelong medication or require a maintenance dose.
"You will probably need to stay on at least a maintenance dose for life to prevent gaining weight back" especially if insulin resistance is a lifelong condition like with PCOS. [23]
"Everyone I know who has achieved any sustainable weight loss goes on a maintenance dose. "[24]
One user plans to "start titrating down very slowly, probably over a couple of years. I'll lower the dose when it's clear I can maintain at the current dose and keep doing that. If I can't maintain then back up I go. "[25]
Another user on a low dose for maintenance: "I’m on a low dose every two weeks with the eventual goal of coming off completely, and I’ve been maintaining a healthy weight. "[26]
A user who regained some weight after stopping cold turkey decided to go on a ". 25 maintenance dose to get it back under control for 6 weeks and then reevaluate. "[27]
Addressing Underlying Issues: For conditions like PCOS, managing insulin resistance is key. "GLP-1 medications help with insulin resistance but only while you are taking them. "[23]
Setting Realistic Expectations and Habits:
"When I was on GLP-1 meds, I got into the habit of eating like a normal person instead of taking advantage of the ability to eat like a bird.. so the adjustment isn’t impossible now that the hunger is back. "[28]
"It did change my habits and losing the weight made me more energetic and find exercise that I enjoy. You can keep it off and maintain!!... The food noise will come back but you make more balanced choices bc you want to stay feeling good! "[29]
Some users compare weight regain after GLP-1s to regain after other weight loss methods, suggesting it's not unique to these medications. [30, 31] One user commented, "It’s not unique to glp1 most people who lose weight can’t keep it off.
Experiences with Weight Regain:
- Many users report regaining weight after stopping GLP-1 medications.
Experiences with Maintaining Weight Loss or Minimal Regain:
- Some users have successfully maintained their weight loss.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Lifestyle Changes (Diet and Exercise): This is the most commonly cited prevention.
Some users compare weight regain after GLP-1s to regain after other weight loss methods, suggesting it's not unique to these medications. [30, 31] One user commented, "It’s not unique to glp1 most people who lose weight can’t keep it off.