Thousands are turning to injectable drugs for quick and dramatic weight loss. These weight-loss injections suppress appetite, accelerate fat loss, and offer visible results in a short time. However, new research from the University of Oxford, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, reveals a concerning trend: the weight often returns—much sooner than expected.
Study Shows Significant Rebound After Stopping Medication
Oxford researchers analyzed data from 11 clinical trials involving more than 6,000 adults. Participants using both older and newer high-dose weight-loss injections lost an average of 8 kilograms. But within 10 months of stopping the medication, most regained nearly all the lost weight.
In fact, those on newer, more powerful drugs lost as much as 16 kilograms. Yet, within a year of discontinuation, they had regained over 9 kilograms—suggesting a complete rebound could happen within two years. These figures, drawn from randomized controlled trials and large observational studies, raise serious concerns for healthcare systems and individuals alike.
Temporary Fix Without Lasting Change
The study challenges the belief that a simple injection can offer a permanent weight-loss solution. According to Professor Susan Jebb, a lead author of the study, these drugs act by biologically suppressing appetite, unlike diets that rely on self-discipline. Once the injections stop, hunger returns—and with it, the weight.
“We’re seeing faster weight regain after stopping these medications than we typically see after traditional diets,” Jebb explained. This raises a critical policy question: should health systems continue funding costly weight-loss drugs if long-term benefits are not sustained?
Medications Must Be Part of a Broader Strategy
Experts emphasize that these drugs should support—not replace—lifestyle changes. Jason Halford, from the European Association for the Study of Obesity, stressed that weight-loss jabs are “an adjunct to behavioural change.” Lasting success, he said, depends on building habits that continue long after the injections stop.
Rethinking Weight Loss: Event or Ongoing Journey?
As reported by MSN, the study urges society to shift its view of weight loss—from a one-time fix to a continuous process. While injections can jumpstart weight reduction, they must be paired with ongoing lifestyle support to maintain results.
As these medications grow more popular, the Oxford findings serve as a timely reminder: real progress begins not with the jab, but with what comes after.
In Summary
Weight-loss injections can be effective in the short term, but without long-term behavioural change, their benefits may vanish quickly. For sustainable weight management, medications must work hand in hand with healthy habits—because the journey doesn’t end when the needle does.