People who stop using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) not only regain lost weight but also lose key health improvements, according to new research.
The Surmount-4 trial found that after stopping the injections, most participants regained a significant amount of weight, and benefits such as lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels, and better blood sugar control were also reversed. Among participants who had lost at least 10% of their body weight, 82% regained at least a quarter of that loss within a year of stopping the medication.
Researchers found that the more weight people regained, the more their cardiometabolic health markers returned to baseline levels. Those with smaller weight regain still kept some health improvements.
Experts say the findings highlight the need for long-term strategies to maintain weight loss, including ongoing lifestyle support and, in some cases, continued medication. They also warned that stopping the drug may remove potential heart-protective benefits.
Separate research suggested that women who stop weight-loss drugs before or during early pregnancy may face higher risks of pregnancy complications, though experts cautioned that more research is needed to confirm cause and effect.
