There may not be a safe off-ramp for some taking GLP-1 drugs, study suggests
The rising popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as tirzepatide (marketed as Zepbound), is making waves in the fight against obesity in the United States. Recent findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveal that while these drugs have been effective in helping individuals shed pounds and improve various health markers, the long-term sustainability of these benefits remains uncertain. In a clinical trial, participants who discontinued tirzepatide not only regained a substantial portion of the weight they had lost but also experienced a decline in cardiovascular health indicators. Key metrics such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting insulin levels reverted to pre-treatment conditions, highlighting the challenges associated with stopping these medications.
In light of these findings, experts from the University of Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Oczypok and Timothy Anderson, have proposed a significant shift in how we perceive these medications. They argue that GLP-1 drugs should be reclassified from “weight loss” treatments to “weight management” therapies, suggesting that continuous use may be necessary for sustained health benefits. This perspective raises important questions about the long-term implications of reliance on pharmacological interventions for weight control and the need for comprehensive strategies that encompass lifestyle changes alongside medication. As obesity rates continue to decline nationally, the conversation around the appropriate use and potential indefinite reliance on these drugs is becoming increasingly critical for both patients and healthcare providers.
The popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications continues to soar—and their uptake is helping to push down obesity rates on a national scale—but a safe, evidence-based way off the drugs isn’t yet in clear view.
An
analysis published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine
found that most participants in a clinical trial who were assigned to stop taking tirzepatide (Zepbound from Eli Lilly) not only regained significant amounts of the weight they had lost on the drug, but they also saw their cardiovascular and metabolic improvements slip away. Their blood pressure went back up, as did their cholesterol, hemoglobin A
1c
(used to assess glucose control levels), and fasting insulin.
In
an accompanying editorial
, two medical experts at the University of Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Oczypok and Timothy Anderson, suggest that this new class of drugs should be rebranded from “weight loss” drugs to “weight management” drugs, which people may need to take indefinitely.
Read full article
Comments
