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, particularly tirzepatide (marketed as Zepbound by Eli Lilly), is making headlines as these drugs contribute to a notable decline in obesity rates across the United States. A recent analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights a concerning trend: participants in a clinical trial who discontinued the use of tirzepatide not only regained a significant portion of the weight they had lost but also experienced a deterioration in their cardiovascular and metabolic health. Key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1c (a marker for glucose control), and fasting insulin levels reverted to pre-treatment conditions, underscoring the challenges associated with stopping these medications.
In light of these findings, experts Elizabeth Oczypok and Timothy Anderson from the University of Pittsburgh have proposed a paradigm shift in how we view these medications. They advocate for rebranding GLP-1 drugs from “weight loss” to “weight management” medications, suggesting that ongoing use may be necessary for sustained health benefits. This perspective raises important questions about the long-term implications of relying on pharmaceutical interventions for weight management, especially as the healthcare community grapples with the complexities of obesity as a chronic condition. As the conversation evolves, it becomes increasingly clear that while GLP-1 medications may offer a powerful tool in the fight against obesity, a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to discontinuation and long-term weight management strategies remains vital.
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.
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