People who stop using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) tend to regain weight and lose key health improvements such as lower blood pressure, reduced “bad” cholesterol and better blood sugar control, according to new research.
The findings come from the Surmount-4 clinical trial, where participants first took tirzepatide for 36 weeks and then either continued the drug or switched to a placebo for another year. Among those who stopped the medication, 82% regained at least a quarter of the weight they had lost.
Researchers found that the more weight participants regained, the more their health markers worsened, including waist size, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose. Those who regained most of their lost weight saw their health measures return to near pre-treatment levels.
Experts say the results highlight the difficulty of maintaining long-term weight loss and suggest continued treatment or stronger lifestyle support may be needed to preserve health benefits. They also warn that stopping the drug may remove protective effects against heart disease.
Further research suggests stopping similar weight-loss drugs before or during early pregnancy may be linked to higher risks of complications, though experts caution more studies are needed to confirm this.
