When Miracle Weight-Loss Drugs Lose Their Edge
Cyndy Dowling struggled with her weight for decades until she found what she thought was a lifelong solution: a monthly injection of one of the popular new weight-loss drugs. The 69-year-old easily lost 60 pounds in the span of a year and a half. But in early 2025, something changed.
The food noise started creeping back. Her weight began edging up. She had to start “dieting” again. Here’s the twist: She never stopped taking Wegovy, one of the so-called GLP-1 drugs. A year later, Dowling has regained 10 pounds and is back to relying on protein shakes for some meals, all while continuing her weekly injections. “I’m fighting it as much as I can,” says the retired government employee. “I feel like I’m trying to hold the reins on something I can’t really control.”
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What you might not have heard: For some people, the return of hunger and thoughts of food come back leading to potential weight gain—even while they are still taking the drug, which mimics naturally occurring gut hormones, suppressing appetite and making people feel full faster. Most obesity doctors say they’ve seen patients in this boat. They say it’s not that the weight-loss medications become less effective. Rather it’s that the body’s biological pressure to regain weight kicks in.
The longer it’s been since you’ve lost weight, the greater the likelihood of the body’s push to get back to the weight it’s used to being at, according to Velazquez. Those who have struggled with obesity longer and have more obesity-related health conditions tend to experience it more, she says. And the more weight loss, the harder the body will fight to try to put it back on.
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What to do if you regain weight while still taking a GLP-1? Doctors advise several things. First, don’t go off the drug. “I emphasize that stopping the medication is very likely to result in further weight regain,” says Dr. Stanford. She sees whether a dose adjustment is needed and whether protein intake and resistance training are at high enough levels. She also assesses sleep, stress and other lifestyle factors that can influence diet. Some doctors like Velazquez say they might add another medication for patients to take in conjunction with the GLP-1. Others encourage patients to ensure they are sticking to a healthy diet and to step up their exercise program.
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