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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Keep taking it, keep losing it. Two large Epic Research studies found that adults who stayed on GLP-1 medications for two years largely maintained the weight they lost in year one — with tirzepatide outperforming semaglutide and non-diabetic patients faring better than those with diabetes. Full weight regain was rare, affecting only 1%–5% of patients.
Two new Epic Research studies drawing on over 310 million patient records confirm what many clinicians suspected: continued GLP-1 use equals continued benefit. Adults who lost at least 5 lbs in their first year on semaglutide or tirzepatide and stayed on the medication largely held onto that loss through year two — and many kept losing.
Patients without diabetes fared better, with about 53% maintaining weight loss at two years on either drug. Among those with diabetes, 47.3% on tirzepatide and 37.7% on semaglutide maintained their loss. Tirzepatide consistently showed less weight regain than semaglutide across both groups. Full return to baseline weight was uncommon, occurring in just 1%–5% of patients.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: These findings give clinicians concrete data to counsel patients on the long-term nature of GLP-1 therapy — and underscore the urgent need for consistent insurance coverage to prevent medically harmful weight regain.
