Patients Regain Weight After Stopping Eli Lilly's Zepbound: Study

The study's comprehensive findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and sustainability of weight-loss treatments. W

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 8:58 AM UTC

Patients who lost weight with Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug, Zepbound, eventually regained a significant amount of weight after discontinuing the treatment. These findings were published in the journal JAMA. Shed light on the challenges faced by individuals seeking long-term weight management solutions.

Weight Regain Among Obese Patients

Reuters reported that the study showed that patients with obesity and no diabetes experienced a 14% weight regain nearly a year after transitioning from an eight-month course of Zepbound to a placebo. However, patients who continued the treatment witnessed an additional 5.5% reduction in weight during the 52 weeks.

Sold under the brand name Zepbound for weight loss and known as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, Lilly's tirzepatide has emerged as a viable option for individuals struggling with weight management. Tirzepatide, along with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, belongs to a class of obesity and weight loss treatments that target the GLP-1 hormone.

Risks of Discontinuing Weight-Loss Drugs

Patients who discontinue the use of weight-loss drugs, such as Wegovy, risk regaining their original body weight within approximately five years, as per Bloomberg. Individuals must consider extended therapy with GLP-1 drugs to maximize the long-term benefits of such treatments.

Analysts have underscored the need for extended data evaluation to assess the effects of tirzepatide and other incretin-based therapies after multiple years of continuous treatment. It is essential to gain insights into potential rapidly diminishing responses to these drugs, ensuring better understanding and managing patient weight.

Throughout the 88-week treatment period, patients who continued taking Lilly's drug showcased an impressive 25.3% reduction in weight. In contrast, patients who switched to a placebo after 56 weeks experienced an overall weight reduction of 9.9% during the entire study period.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, including those offered by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, have demonstrated efficacy in inducing a feeling of fullness after eating and slowing gastric emptying. These drugs present a promising approach to address the challenges individuals face in striving for effective weight management.

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