Jump to: Why people regain weight after stopping Wegovy? | How to maintain weight loss after stopping | How long to stay on Wegovy | The Second Nature approach | Frequently asked questions | Take home message
Most people regain some weight after stopping Wegovy (semaglutide) unless they’ve developed sustainable eating habits alongside the medication.
Research shows the average person regains about two-thirds of their lost weight within a year after stopping.
In a post-analysis of 327 participants on semaglutide or placebo, the average weight loss after 68 weeks was 17.3% with semaglutide and 2% with placebo.
A year after stopping the medication, the average weight loss dropped to 5.6% with semaglutide and 0.1% with placebo – showing people regained about 11.6% of their body weight.
However, this trial suddenly stopped participants on the medication, rather than doing a gradual transition off of the medication, which would be considered standard medical practice for most medications.
Emerging
research suggests that when you come off weight-loss medications slowly and gradually reduce your dose, you’re more likely to maintain weight loss in the long run.
Why do people regain weight after stopping Wegovy?
Weight regain after stopping Wegovy happens for several reasons, with the main one being that your body’s GLP-1 levels return to normal, which increases hunger levels and food cravings.
When these GLP-1 levels drop after stopping Wegovy, most people notice they feel hungrier again and find it harder to manage portion sizes, which can lead to weight regain.
Here are the main reasons people regain weight after stopping Wegovy:
- Return to previous eating patterns: Wegovy naturally helps you eat less by reducing hunger but if you haven’t changed your underlying eating habits and started eating a diet based on whole foods, then you’re likely to regain weight when you stop Wegovy.
- Lack of regular physical activity: Moving regularly helps maintain weight loss by improving hunger signals to the brain and improving how your body processes food. People who build consistent activity habits are much more likely to maintain weight loss in the long term.
- Not addressed psychological drivers of overeating: Many of us eat for reasons beyond hunger – stress, boredom, social pressure, or habit. If these underlying triggers haven’t been addressed during your time on Wegovy, they’ll likely return to influence your eating when you stop the medication.
How to maintain weight loss after stopping Wegovy
Keeping weight off after stopping Wegovy is possible with the right approach. Based on our experience supporting thousands of people through weight management, these habits make the biggest difference:
Focus on the balanced plate model
Rather than counting calories and following out-dated diet advice, focus on the quality of your meals using our balanced plate approach:
- Fill half your plate with vegetables or salad to provide filling fibre with minimal calories
- Include a quarter plate of protein (chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, or legumes) to help maintain muscle and keep hunger at bay
- Add a quarter plate of complex carbohydrates (brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole grains) for sustained energy
- Include a serving of healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts) to support hormone function and satisfaction
This balanced approach naturally helps control portion sizes without the feeling of restriction that leads many people back to old habits.
The goal isn’t to eat perfectly all the time, but to find a way of eating that is sustainable most of the time that nourishes our body and mind.
Move in ways you genuinely enjoy
Exercise doesn’t have to mean intense gym sessions. From our experience with thousands of members, consistent movement that you actually look forward to is far more effective for keeping weight off than sporadic intense workouts that you dread.
Try to:
- Walk daily, and make it social if you can
- Find activities that feel good to you – dancing, swimming, cycling, or gardening all count
- Include some form of resistance exercise twice weekly to maintain muscle mass
- Remember that even brief movement sessions throughout the day add up
- Join local classes, groups, or clubs to build a community
Design your environment for success
Willpower is a limited resource. People who successfully maintain weight loss after Wegovy make healthy choices easier by changing their surroundings:
- Keep nutritious, filling foods visible and easy to access, like chopped vegetables and hummus in the fridge
- Store less nutritious options out of sight or don’t buy them
- Prepare meals and snacks in advance when you have more energy and motivation
- Create simple routines around mealtimes to reduce decision fatigue, like batch cooking at the weekend so you’ve got healthy meals ready to go during the week
Understand your personal eating triggers
From working with thousands of members, we’ve found that sustainable weight management requires understanding why you eat, not just what you eat:
- Notice patterns around when you tend to overeat (certain times, emotions, or situations)
- Develop alternative responses to stress, boredom, or fatigue that don’t involve food
- Practice mindful eating to reconnect with your body’s actual hunger and fullness signals
- Consider keeping a food journal to identify patterns you might not otherwise notice
How long can you stay on Wegovy?
In the UK, NICE guidelines generally recommend semaglutide (Wegovy) for weight loss for up to two years. This applies primarily to NHS prescriptions.
If you’re getting Wegovy through a private provider like Second Nature, you may be able to stay on the medication for longer, depending on your individual health needs and response to the treatment.
Many specialists now view GLP-1 medications like Wegovy as potentially long-term treatments for obesity, similar to how we treat other chronic conditions with ongoing medication. However, the research on very long-term use (beyond 2-3 years) is still developing.
What we do know from working with thousands of members is that the most successful approach uses the time on medication to build sustainable habits that support your health whether you eventually stop the medication or continue it long-term.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wegovy become less effective over time?
Most people maintain good response to Wegovy throughout treatment, though some experience plateaus which are normal in any weight loss journey.
These plateaus usually resolve with patience and small adjustments to eating or activity. If you notice significant hunger returning while on a stable dose, speak with your healthcare provider.
Have people successfully kept weight off after stopping Wegovy?
Yes, many people maintain significant weight loss after stopping Wegovy, though it requires consistent habits. Those who focus on balanced eating, regular movement, and understanding their eating triggers while on the medication typically have much better long-term results than those who rely solely on the medication’s appetite-suppressing effects.
What should I expect when I stop taking Wegovy?
When stopping Wegovy, most people notice gradual changes over several weeks rather than immediate effects. Hunger typically increases gradually, and you may notice food becoming more appealing or taking up more mental space. Having a plan for managing these changes significantly improves your chances of maintaining your weight loss.
Is it better to taper off Wegovy slowly?
Many healthcare providers recommend gradually reducing your Wegovy dose rather than stopping abruptly. This gives your body time to adjust and allows you to adapt your eating and activity habits to compensate for the changing effects of the medication.
Can I restart Wegovy if I regain weight?
Yes, you can typically restart Wegovy if you’ve previously taken it, though you’ll usually need to begin again with the lower starting dose and work up to your maintenance dose.
However, developing sustainable habits while initially on the medication gives you a better chance of maintaining results without needing to restart.
Take home message
If you stop Wegovy suddenly and haven’t developed healthy habits, you’re likely to regain weight if you come off Wegovy.
Using your time on Wegovy to build sustainable habits around eating, physical activity, and managing stress gives you the best chance of keeping weight off long-term.
Think of the medication as creating a window of opportunity to establish these habits that will last for a lifetime.
Second Nature's Mounjaro programme
Second Nature provides Mounjaro as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you’re eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We’ve had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We’re here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK’s most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
