Delighted After Losing 10kg with Wegovy... The Shocking Consequence After Stopping

Weight Returns After Stopping Obesity Medication
Rebound Four Times Faster Than for Those Who Lose Weight Through Exercise

Image to aid understanding of the article. ChatGPT

As demand for GLP-1-based obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro is rapidly increasing, it has drawn attention that travel YouTuber Pani Bottle, who successfully lost 10 kg using Wegovy, revealed that her weight has started to increase again after stopping the medication. With both research results and real-life cases showing rapid weight regain after discontinuing the drug, concerns are mounting over the sustainability of obesity treatments.

Pani Bottle admits, "After stopping Wegovy, I'm gaining weight again"

On February 2, Pani Bottle posted on her social media account, writing, "After stopping Wegovy, I'm gaining weight again," along with a photo taken during her travels. In the photo, it is clear that the sharp jawline she had after losing 10 kg has disappeared and her cheeks appear fuller.

Last August, she appeared on the JTBC variety show "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" and revealed that she had lost about 10 kg through Wegovy injections. At the time, she said, "Right now, I've stopped taking Wegovy," and mentioned, "I can't even eat half of what I used to," highlighting the strong appetite-suppressing effect of the drug.

The YouTuber PaNibottle, who successfully lost 10 kg using the obesity treatment drug Wegovy, shown on the left, and a recent update. PaNibottle Instagram

"As soon as I stopped the medication, it all came back"... Similar experiences continue

Pani Bottle's experience of regaining weight after stopping Wegovy is not unique. Various online communities and social media platforms are filled with stories such as, "I gained all the weight back as soon as I stopped the medication," "I returned to my original weight within a few months," "I was on the injections for over half a year, but the weight came back in two months," and "My body shape has seriously changed." There is even a new term, "Daegovi" (meaning "the return of the weight after Wegovy"), circulating as a play on words.

Experts interpret this as a phenomenon stemming from the pharmacological characteristics of Wegovy. While Wegovy suppresses appetite and enhances satiety to induce weight loss, once the drug's effects disappear, the appetite control mechanism also weakens. Without concurrent improvements in lifestyle habits, it is structurally difficult to avoid weight rebound.

'Rapid' weight regain confirmed by research

This has also been confirmed by research. According to a recent meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Oxford published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the rate of weight regain after stopping obesity medications is much faster than after discontinuing exercise or dietary interventions.

The researchers analyzed 37 studies involving 9,341 overweight and obese adults. Participants received GLP-1-based drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for an average of 39 weeks, followed by 32 weeks of monitoring. During the treatment period, participants lost an average of 15 kg, but after stopping the medication, their weight increased by an average of 0.4 kg per month.

In particular, among users of the new GLP-1 drugs, the rate of weight gain reached 0.8 kg per month. The researchers concluded that in such cases, there is a high likelihood that body weight will return to its original level within about a year and a half after discontinuing the medication. This rate is about four times faster than the weight regain observed after stopping diet and exercise programs, which is 0.1 kg per month.

Obesity Treatment Drug Wegovy. Yonhap News

The greater the weight loss, the faster the rebound

The research team pointed out that the greater the amount of weight lost, the faster the weight tends to return. This is interpreted as a result of the abrupt reversal of appetite and energy metabolism regulation mechanisms that were suppressed by the medication once it is discontinued. This suggests that while drug therapy can accelerate the 'speed' of weight loss, it may be vulnerable in the maintenance phase.

Experts caution against viewing medication as a short-term weight loss tool. They emphasize, "Medication is merely a tool for rapid weight reduction, but without a strategy for after discontinuation, it is difficult to avoid rebound weight gain," and add, "Long-term management of eating habits and physical activity must be combined for treatment to be truly meaningful."