More than half of first-time Ozempic and Wegovy users stop treatment within a year, raising fears of weight regain and lost health benefits.
A new study has raised concerns over the high dropout rate among Americans prescribed GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss.
Researchers in Denmark analyzed data from more than 77,000 first-time semaglutide users without diabetes and found that over half stopped taking the medication within a year. Nearly one in five quit by the third month, and 42% had discontinued treatment by month nine.
“This level of drop off is concerning because these medications aren’t meant to be a temporary quick fix,” said Dr. Reimar Thomsen, lead author of the study at Aarhus University.
The blockbuster drugs, originally developed for diabetes, work by reducing appetite and increasing fullness. Doctors warn that the benefits disappear when treatment ends, often leading to rapid weight regain.
The study identified cost, side effects, and age as key factors in early discontinuation, with younger and low-income patients most likely to quit.