SFEBES2026 Poster Presentations Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes (68 abstracts)
Trajectory of weight regain after cessation of glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and nonlinear meta-regression
Brajan Budini 1 , Steven Luo 1 , Martin Tam 1 , Isabel Stead 1 , Andrew Lee 1 , Angelica Akrami 1 , Antonio Vidal-Puig 2 & Adrian Park 3
1School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; 2University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, MDU MRC, Cambridge, United Kingdom; 3Addenbrooke’s Hospital, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have emerged as breakthrough weight loss agents1, 2. However, discontinuation is common3, and clinical trials have demonstrated significant weight regain following cessation4,5. In this systematic review, we aimed to characterise the trajectory of weight regain after GLP-1RA cessation.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-regression analysis followed Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to 26/12/2024 for randomised controlled trials and observational studies reporting weight outcomes after cessation of GLP-1RAs in overweight/obese adults. Weight regain was the primary outcome and was modelled using nonlinear regression. Secondary outcomes included HbA1c and systolic blood pressure. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD420250631751).
Findings: We identified 44 relevant studies. Weight, HbA1c and systolic blood pressure consistently rebounded after GLP-1RA cessation. 6 trials with 3,236 participants were included in the exponential recovery model. Weight regain was estimated to plateau at 75.6% (95% CI 68.5-82.7) of the weight lost on GLP-1RA treatment. The rate constant was 0.0302 per week (95% CI 0.0204-0.0399), corresponding to a half-life of 23.0 weeks. At 1 year post-cessation, an estimated 40.2% of the on-treatment weight loss remained. Most studies were assessed to have moderate risk of bias.
Interpretation: GLP-1RA cessation is associated with a predictable and decelerating pattern of weight regain, which appears to plateau below pre-treatment levels, suggesting partial weight-loss benefit persists long-term but is substantially attenuated.
Funding: None
References: 1. Wilding et al. (2022) Diabetes Obes Metab. 24(8):1553–64 2. Jastreboff et al. (2025) N Engl J Med. 392(10):958–71 3. Rodriguez et al. (2025) JAMA Netw Open. 8(1):e2457349 4. Rubino et al. (2021) JAMA. 325(14):1414–25 5. Aronne et al. (2024) JAMA. 331(1):38–48
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Endocrine Abstracts
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