From the Guidelines
The chance of maintaining weight after discontinuing Zepbound (tirzepatide) is low without implementing significant lifestyle changes, with most patients regaining a substantial portion of their lost weight within 6-12 months after stopping the medication. To improve your chances of maintaining weight loss, you should gradually transition to a sustainable reduced-calorie diet (typically 300-500 calories below maintenance needs) and establish a consistent exercise routine of at least 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week before discontinuing the medication, as supported by recent studies 1. Additionally, implementing behavioral strategies such as regular weight monitoring, meal planning, and stress management techniques is crucial. The weight regain occurs because Zepbound works by suppressing appetite and slowing gastric emptying; when discontinued, these effects cease, often leading to increased hunger and caloric intake.
Some key points to consider when stopping Zepbound include:
- Gradually transitioning to a sustainable reduced-calorie diet to minimize weight regain 1
- Establishing a consistent exercise routine of at least 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week to support weight-loss maintenance 1
- Implementing behavioral strategies such as regular weight monitoring, meal planning, and stress management techniques to improve chances of maintaining weight loss 1
- Working with healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive maintenance plan that includes nutritional guidance, physical activity recommendations, and possibly behavioral therapy before stopping Zepbound 1
It is essential to note that maintaining long-term weight loss is difficult, and clinical guidelines support the use of long-term antiobesity medications when weight maintenance is inadequate with lifestyle interventions alone 1. Therefore, it is crucial to work with healthcare providers to develop a personalized plan for maintaining weight loss after discontinuing Zepbound.
From the Research
Chance of Maintaining Weight after Going Off Zepbound
- The provided studies do not directly address the chance of maintaining weight after going off Zepbound (Tirzepatide) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, the studies suggest that Tirzepatide is effective in achieving significant weight loss in patients with overweight or obesity 3, 5, 6.
- A study published in the Mayo Clinic proceedings found that patients with type 1 diabetes and overweight or obesity who used Tirzepatide for a median follow-up time of 8 months achieved a total body weight loss of 8.5% 5.
- Another study published in the International journal of obesity found that among 5800 patients, 78.22% achieved ≥5% weight loss, 55.60% achieved ≥10% weight loss, and 32.28% achieved ≥15% weight loss with Tirzepatide 6.
- The long-term effects of Tirzepatide on weight loss and maintenance are still unknown and require further study 3, 4, 5.
- It is also important to note that weight loss maintenance often requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates behavioral treatment, lifestyle modifications, and/or other interventions 2.
Factors Influencing Weight Loss Maintenance
- The studies suggest that Tirzepatide's efficacy in achieving weight loss is dose-dependent, with higher doses resulting in greater weight loss 6.
- The use of Tirzepatide was also associated with improvements in cardiometabolic parameters and decreased insulin requirements 3, 5.
- However, the studies do not provide information on the factors that influence weight loss maintenance after going off Tirzepatide, such as diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle habits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.