Diabetes Obes Metab

Many patients restart or switch therapies after stopping GLP-1 agents, study finds

March 16, 2026

A large retrospective cohort study of 7,938 adults treated within an Ohio–Florida health system found that nearly 1 in 5 patients (19.6%) restarted semaglutide or tirzepatide within a year of stopping therapy, and 35.2% transitioned to another obesity treatment. Among alternative strategies, 27.4% initiated another weight‑loss medication, 13.7% engaged in lifestyle‑modification visits, and 0.6% underwent bariatric surgery.

Patients previously treated for obesity achieved a mean –8.4% weight change from baseline to medication discontinuation (95% confidence interval [CI], -8.7% to -8.1%), while those treated for T2DM achieved –4.4% (95% CI, -4.7% to -4.2%). Average weight change during the year after stopping therapy was small—+0.5% for those treated for obesity and –1.3% for those treated for T2D—but individual results varied widely.

Clinical takeaway: Many patients require continued or alternative obesity interventions after discontinuing GLP‑1 agents. Consider establishing a follow‑up plan—including monitoring, lifestyle support, or alternative pharmacotherapy—to help maintain weight‑loss momentum after treatment stops.

Source:

Gasoyan H, et al. (2026, March 12). Diabetes Obes Metab. Obesity Treatments and Weight Changes in Clinical Practice After Discontinuation of Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41816857/