People who stop using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro (tirzepatide) tend to regain weight and lose many of the associated health benefits, according to new research.
The analysis of the Surmount-4 clinical trial found that after stopping the drug, most participants not only regained weight but also saw reversals in improvements to blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, waist size and blood sugar levels. 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 treatment.
Experts say this outcome is not surprising, as excess weight directly affects blood pressure and metabolic health. Researchers also warned that stopping the drug may remove potential heart-protective effects seen in previous studies.
The findings highlight the difficulty of maintaining long-term weight loss and suggest that ongoing treatment or stronger lifestyle support may be needed to sustain benefits. Some experts also noted that weight-loss injections don’t always lead to lasting changes in diet and exercise habits, which can drive weight regain once the medication stops.
