Study: Older adults regain weight within 2 years of stopping weight-loss injections

A recent study by the University of Oxford warns that people who stop injectable weight-loss treatments regain the lost weight rapidly — typically within less than two years. This can be particularly problematic for older adults, who need weight stability for optimal health.

The research focused on medications from the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, compounds originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. These drugs work by mimicking a natural hormone that produces a feeling of fullness, causing people to eat less.

The study analysed data from 37 previous research trials, covering information on 9,341 individuals. Participants had undergone treatment for an average of 39 weeks and were subsequently monitored for approximately 32 additional weeks.

The findings are concerning: after stopping treatment, body weight increased by roughly 0.4 kilograms per month. This rate of regain meant that participants returned to their original weight in just 1.7 years from discontinuing the medication.

During the active treatment period, those included in the study lost an average of 8.3 kilograms. However, in the first year after stopping the injections, they regained nearly 5 kilograms — a significant proportion of the weight they had lost.

Of particular concern for older adults is that this weight regain proved to be nearly four times faster than with traditional weight-loss methods, such as controlled diets or exercise programmes.

For seniors dealing with mobility issues or chronic illness, such rapid weight fluctuation can have serious consequences for their overall health and quality of life.