This is the question many patients who take GLP-1 drugs ask their doctors (and themselves). The internet has been increasingly churning out articles based both on recent research and personal experiences discussing what happens when you stop taking them (ever heard of “Ozempic rebound”?), and expert advice on how to maintain your weight loss when you stop taking the meds. There sure seems to be a lot of interest in quitting but preferably without gaining the weight back.
Over the past few years, GLP-1 medications have dramatically transformed how doctors approach obesity treatment and, more importantly, how people manage their health. These drugs, including semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), have helped countless patients lose weight and improve their overall well-being.
But as effective as they are, many people are now asking a very important question: “Do I have to take a GLP-1 forever?” Let’s dive into what we know and what you can do if you’re thinking about stopping a GLP-1 — based on several sources.
Why GLP-1s are a big deal
A recent article by Chief Medicine Officer at Noom, Dr. Linda Anegawa, points out that roughly three out of four Americans live with excess weight, putting them at higher risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and more. It’s no wonder that an estimated 160 million adults in the U.S. are actively trying to lose weight.
Enter GLP-1s — a game-changing class of medications that mimic natural hormones to regulate appetite, improve blood sugar levels, and support weight loss. For many, they’ve been a lifeline, helping some patients lose up to 15% of their body weight. So it’s easy to see why GLP-1 meds are a big deal.
So, how long do you have to take a GLP-1?
Here’s the truth: GLP-1s are relatively new in the world of obesity treatment. Originally developed for managing type 2 diabetes, these medications are now widely used for weight loss, but long-term data is still catching up. Some people will take them long-term, possibly for life. Others may choose to stop because they’ve hit their goal, are experiencing side effects, can’t afford them, or simply want to try a different approach. What matters most, Dr. Anegawa notes, is having a safe, supported transition off the medication — if that’s your choice.
What happens if you stop taking a GLP-1 medication?
According to Dr. Anegawa,
[…] medications quickly can have consequences for some people. If needed, a clinician can create a tapering schedule you can follow to minimize any concerns.
As you taper off, you might experience changes in your blood sugar and an increase in appetite. Increased appetite, if unchecked and not managed carefully, can lead to weight regain.
How to maintain your progress
Apparently, many people have successfully maintained weight loss long-term without medications. The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) has been tracking thousands of former users who’ve done just that.
Their success stories reveal some important habits, which Dr. Anegawa transformed into tangible advice. While it won’t reveal any surprises, it’s still good to adjust expectations, come with a realistic plan, and remind yourself that there’s work to be done on a daily basis.
First, it’s essential to have medical support from someone who understands obesity as a complex, chronic condition. There are often multiple factors at play, and your doctor can help identify other treatment options and strategies that work for you.
Next, remember that weight loss medications aren’t a replacement for healthy eating but rather a tool. So, build and maintain strong nutrition habits like sticking to protein-rich meals that feature plenty of vegetables.
Dr. Anewaga writes,
To lose weight, you want to also make sure you’re taking in less calories than you’re burning (i.e. be in a caloric deficit). To maintain your weight, you should determine your maintenance calories — i.e. the number of calories you should be eating per day to maintain your current weight.
Also, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week, plus two strength-training sessions. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight — even walking more each day can make a difference. In fact, NWCR participants actually increased their steps after coming off weight loss meds.
Staying hydrated is another must for appetite control, streamlined physical performance, and maintaining optimal energy levels. Noom recommends 91 ounces daily for women and 125 ounces daily for men, reminding us that fruit-infused water or water-rich foods like cucumbers and melons count too.
Another piece of advice is to know your triggers. Work-related stress, holidays, and even travel can set you back. Finally, Dr. Anegawa wants us to know that leaning on your support system (family, friends and community) can be a powerful way to stay ahead. (For example, this study showed that people with strong support are more successful in maintaining weight loss over time.)
Let’s add a personal narrative into the mix
That would be one of Dr. Mara Gordon’s, who is a family physician in Camden, N.J., and a contributor to NPR. Dr. Gordon’s personal journey is absolutely worth exploring because she brings her perspective as both “a size-inclusive physician who doesn’t push my patients to lose weight” and a former Ozempic user.
Dr. Gordon doesn’t mince words, diving right into it:
Ozempic made me nauseated, gave me heartburn, disrupted my sleep. It wasn’t worth it. I was not alone, it turns out, in finding it difficult to stick with the Ozempic and similar drugs. New research shows the vast majority of people who try GLP-1 agonists for weight loss end up stopping them…
But at the time, I hadn’t yet fully embraced a weight-neutral approach to caring for my patients — and caring for myself. After all, I had spent years of medical training absorbing the message that the only way to be healthy was to get down to a body mass index of 25 or below.
But my experience with Ozempic made me realize I had confused two distinct issues: Being healthy is not always the same thing as being thin.
The research Dr. Gordon refers to is a study that “found that nearly 65% of study subjects who were taking the medications explicitly for weight loss, rather than diabetes control, ended up going off them within a year.” Again, common reasons included suffering from significant side effects, having to absorb a high price of the medications because the insurance didn’t cover them, or simply because a person has lost a significant amount of weight and just wanted to stop.
In Dr. Gordon’s case, she explained, she just felt healthier when she wasn’t taking Ozempic. She writes that…
[A] narrow focus on weight — which, so often, our medical training still teaches — misses the point that there’s more to being well than a number on the scale. For me, I felt healthier at a higher weight because stopping Ozempic helped me exercise regularly, sleep better, and feel less pain.
As I try to help my patients navigate decisions about these medications, I keep returning to the core value of bodily autonomy. Health is multidimensional and deeply personal. My patients decide what it means to be well — with or without a GLP-1 drug.
Back to the question…
For some, yes. For others, no. But no matter where you are on your journey, you have options, and you’re not alone.
And let’s finish strong with the words of wisdom from Dr. Pretlow (and a topic definitely worth exploring going forward):
GLP-1 meds are only a band-aid and do not treat the underlying problem, which we feel is the displacement mechanism going off the rails.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Are GLP-1s forever? How to get off them.,” Noom, 3/24/25
Source: “I quit Ozempic and embraced feeling healthy over striving for thinness,” NPR, 4/24/25
Source: “Discontinuation and Reinitiation of Dual-Labeled GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among US Adults With Overweight or Obesity,” JAMA Network, 1/31/25
Image by Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
FAQs and Media Requests: 
