The rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide has transformed obesity treatment worldwide. But as millions of patients begin — and eventually discontinue — these therapies, one critical question remains: What happens next?
A new meta-analysis published in Cureus by Kolli et al. (2025) offers a comprehensive look at weight regain after the discontinuation of GLP-1 and other anti-obesity drugs.
Study overview: pooling the data on post-treatment rebound
The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and real-world studies evaluating weight change after stopping pharmacological treatment for obesity.
They focused specifically on GLP-1 receptor agonists (like semaglutide and liraglutide), but also included other anti-obesity agents such as orlistat, phentermine/topiramate, and naltrexone/bupropion.
Key finding: stopping the drug means losing the benefit
Across the studies analyzed, patients regained a significant proportion of the weight they had initially lost, especially in the 6 to 12 months following treatment discontinuation.
In GLP-1 users:
- The average weight regain was between 2.5 and 6.0 kg within one year post-discontinuation.
- Longer treatment durations (≥56 weeks) were associated with greater initial weight loss — but also greater rebound if stopped abruptly.
- Importantly, patients with no structured lifestyle or behavioral support were most likely to regain the weight.
This confirms what many clinicians have observed: GLP-1s are effective, but their benefits are not self-sustaining.
Why this matters for patients, providers, and payers
For patients, this highlights the importance of seeing GLP-1s not as a cure, but as a metabolic reset — a tool to jumpstart long-term change.
For prescribers, it reinforces the need to prepare for the post-treatment phase with sustained lifestyle support, gradual tapering strategies, or long-term combination plans.
And for health systems and manufacturers, it raises a core value question: how can we make weight loss stick — and reduce rebound at scale?
Where Boli fits in: sustaining outcomes beyond the molecule
At Boli, we believe digital therapeutics can play a crucial role in solving this problem.
Boli supports patients during GLP-1 therapy — but it’s designed to go far beyond that. It helps users:
- Build durable habits during the active treatment phase
- Transition gradually off the drug, with personalized behavioral support
- Avoid the post-discontinuation drop-off that leads to rebound
This long-term perspective is essential. Drugs initiate change. Behavior locks it in.
By combining GLP-1 pharmacology with Boli’s structured digital follow-up, we aim to create a more stable, sustainable future for metabolic care.
Conclusion: retention beats rebound — if you plan for it
The message from this 2025 study is clear: rebound is common, but not inevitable. With the right tools, support, and preparation, patients can retain the gains of GLP-1 therapy well beyond the last dose.
And that’s where innovation must go next.
Source
Kolli R, Aoutla S, Jyothi N, et al. (October 19, 2025). Rebound or Retention: A Meta-Analysis of Weight Regain After the Discontinuation of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Other Anti-obesity Drugs. Cureus 17(10): e94926. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.94926
