GLP-1 receptor agonists—like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—have taken the weight loss world by storm. These drugs, originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, have become the go-to for people looking to shed pounds quickly. And for many, they work—at least for a while.
But what happens when people stop taking them? The research is clear: most regain the weight—and often faster than they lost it.

The Weight Rebound Problem
Several studies have found that people who stop GLP-1 medications tend to regain a significant portion of the weight they lost. One study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism found that after discontinuing semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy), participants regained nearly two-thirds of their lost weight within a year. (1)
Why? Because these drugs don’t “fix” the root cause of weight gain. They suppress appetite and slow digestion, but they don’t teach people better eating habits or improve their metabolism long-term. When the drug is removed, hunger signals return, old habits creep back in, and the body fights to regain lost weight—sometimes overshooting and gaining even more.
Look at it this way: using medications to lose weight is like filling up your car's tire with air while it has a hole in it. You treated your car tire's symptom, that it was flat, but the problem is that it has a hole, and its still there, so when you drive off, it goes flat again.
Weight gain is a symptom of a bigger problem, which is, almost always, an overconsumption of food. You must learn how to reduce your intake effectively, or work with Valrico's #1 personal training gym that can tell you exactly what to eat to win, wink.
This cycle is what keeps the pharmaceutical industry thriving.
The U.S. and Big Pharma: A Unique Relationship
What I found funny while researching this topic is that the United States is one of only two countries in the world that allow pharmaceutical companies to directly advertise to consumers (the other is New Zealand (2), who heavily regulates advertising). This means Americans are constantly bombarded with commercials for weight loss drugs, antidepressants, and other medications—each promising a quick fix.
Just in the first 7 months of the year in 2023, drug companies spent $491,000,000 on weight loss/diabetes medications. (3) These companies do not care about you; their #1 concern is profit.
These ads aren’t just harmless commercials. They shape public perception, making people believe they need medication for things that could often be addressed with proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Instead of being encouraged to build sustainable habits, people are led to believe that weight loss is just an expensive prescription away, ignoring the side effects.
I do think that these medications can be a helpful way to treat obesity, but they must not be seen as a cure. They are a tool that could be used along with exercise and a proper nutrition guide.
The Alternative: A Long-Term Approach
GLP-1 drugs can be a tool, but they shouldn’t be the only strategy. The only way to maintain weight loss long-term is to develop habits that support it—consistent strength training, proper nutrition, and daily movement. Without these, no medication will provide lasting results.
Pharmaceutical companies will continue to push weight loss drugs because they’re profitable. But if we want real, lasting change, we need to take back control from Big Pharma and focus on sustainable solutions—not just temporary fixes.
With weight loss medications, you will experience side effects, but with a proper healthy regimen, you experience benefits.
And if you'd prefer to skip the research phase, we've already done it! Sign up for a free personal training session at www.heroesfitness.org, and I will personally call you to fill you in on our strategies.
And by the way, if you found this post to be insightful, would you mind sharing it with a friend?
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