The short answer
On average, appetite comes back and so does much of the weight. In the STEP 1 extension, people regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping semaglutide.1
Your prescriber decides about your medicine. Reviewed November 14, 2026.What people ask
Searched every month
- what happens when you stop taking glp 12,400
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- what happens when you stop glp 1880
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US Google searches a month, 12-month average to November 2026 (Google Ads Keyword Planner).
What the research says
The numbers, on average
- 17.3%lost on average by week 68 on semaglutide, in 327 people1
- 11.6 ptsof that regained on average by week 120, a year after stopping1
- 1.4 yrsprojected for heart and blood sugar markers to return to baseline, across 37 studies3
- Week 68, on semaglutide
- −17.3%
- Week 120, a year after stopping
- −5.6%
Tirzepatide shows the same pattern
In SURMOUNT-4, 670 people lost 20.9% on average in 36 weeks. People switched to placebo regained 14.0% over the next year. People who stayed on lost another 5.5%.2
On average, people still ended below their start
A year after stopping, the net loss in STEP 1 was 5.6% on average. 95 of 197 people (48.2%) were still at least 5% below their starting weight.1
The support stopped too
In STEP 1, lifestyle counselling ended at the same time as the medicine, so the trial cannot say what continued support would have changed.1
What it means for meals
Build meals for when appetite returns
Protein at every meal
The joint nutrition advisory suggests 1.2 to 1.6 g of protein per kg of body weight a day during weight loss.5
Fiber you can see
Beans, lentils and whole grains add bulk to a plate as portions grow back.
Regular meal times
People in the National Weight Control Registry who keep weight off tend to eat at regular times and eat breakfast.5
Alma logs a meal from a photo, voice or text in about 10 seconds and shows protein and fiber for each meal.
Questions people ask
Can you just stop taking a GLP-1?
That is a decision for your prescriber. The labels include rules for missed doses and restarting, and your prescriber can plan any change with you.
Will I regain all the weight?
Not everyone does. On average, people in STEP 1 regained about two-thirds of what they lost within a year, and about half stayed at least 5% below their starting weight.
Do the health gains last after stopping?
On average they fade with the weight. A 2026 review of 37 studies projected that blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar markers return to baseline within about 1.4 years.
Sources
- Wilding et al. 2022. Weight regain and health effects after stopping semaglutide: STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
- Aronne et al. 2024. Continued tirzepatide vs placebo for weight maintenance: the SURMOUNT-4 trial. JAMA.
- Weight regain after stopping weight-loss medicines: systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 studies. The BMJ, 2026.
- Rubino et al. 2021. Continued vs withdrawn semaglutide for weight maintenance: the STEP 4 trial. JAMA.
- Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: joint advisory of ACLM, ASN, OMA and The Obesity Society, 2025.
- FDA. Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, 2025.
US Google searches a month, 12-month average to November 2026 (Google Ads Keyword Planner). Editorial standards
Alma does not give medical advice. Starting, stopping or changing a GLP-1 dose is a decision for your prescriber.
