Health · Pharma & Biotech · 1 hr ago
Doctor warns of hunger and weight regain after stopping GLP-1 drugs
People stopping GLP-1 drugs may face rebound effects, according to internal medicine physician Frank Dumont.
The medicines include Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound, which are used for weight management and diabetes control.
Some patients stop because of side effects or concerns, while others do not want to take medication long term.
Dumont says hunger and food cravings often rise after treatment ends, and weight regain is common.
In one semaglutide trial extension, participants regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping treatment; a tirzepatide trial also found substantial regain.
Obesity is treated as a chronic condition by major medical organizations, so reaching a target weight may not mean treatment is no longer needed.
Patients should decide with their physician whether to stop, especially because some side effects can be serious.
Dr. Frank Dumont warns that stopping GLP-1 medications can bring back hunger and cravings and lead to weight regain.
He says common side effects and medical concerns can lead some patients to stop taking the drugs.
In the STEP 1 trial extension, participants regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping semaglutide and lifestyle interventions.
In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, patients switched from tirzepatide to a placebo regained more than half their lost weight over the following year.
Dumont says patients should work with a physician when deciding whether to stop treatment.
- Who
- Dr. Frank Dumont, an internal medicine physician and executive medical director at Virta Health.
- What
- He warned that stopping GLP-1 drugs can bring back hunger and cravings and lead to weight regain.
- When
- Fox News published the article on 2026-11-12.
- Where
- Dumont spoke with Fox News Digital. He is based in San Francisco.
- Why
- Some patients stop because of medical concerns, side effects or a preference not to take long-term medication.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Participants in the STEP 1 trial extension regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost.
Patients switched to a placebo in the SURMOUNT-4 trial regained more than half their lost weight over the following year.
Fox News published Dumont’s warning about potential risks after stopping GLP-1 medications.
- Doctor
- Frank Dumont
- Published
- 2026-11-12
- STEP 1 trial extension
- About two-thirds of weight lost regained within a year of stopping semaglutide and lifestyle interventions
- SURMOUNT-4 trial
- Patients switched to placebo after 36 months of tirzepatide regained more than half their lost weight over the following year
What people are saying
Working with your physician to make a decision about whether it's right for you to stay on the medicine or not is important.
Unless you have significantly changed what you're doing in terms of the types of foods you're eating, it's likely you'll go back to the same foods you were eating before, and hunger and cravings will go up.
That's just so devastating for people who felt like they'd finally found a solution that would work.