A review in BMJ found that when people have been on any weight-loss drug for around 10 months and then stop taking it, they return to their baseline weight in 1.7 years.

And if they were taking semaglutide or tirzepatide, they rebounded in 1.5 years.

That's pretty discouraging, especially because many people want to discontinue these medications when they reach their target weight. And less than 25% of users stay on a GLP-1 for a full year, whether they meet their goals or not.

Fortunately, a new study offers a way to reduce your prescribed routine and even increase your weight loss.

Research published in the journal Obesity says that taking GLP-1 medications at the same dose every two weeks allowed participants to retain their weight loss and even lose a bit more.

The reduced-dose schedule of around 36 weeks saw patients’ weight go from an average of 194 pounds before starting treatment to 163 pounds when they transitioned to the less-frequent dosing. And while taking the meds every two weeks, they lost four more pounds.

This may work because it gives your body a chance to adjust to a lower level of appetite suppression, and stabilize insulin and glucose levels. Then when you go off the medication, you can more easily use lifestyle changes to maintain your healthier weight. (Although I say stay on GLP-1s if you can — they have many additional benefits.)