Researchers found that the heart benefits provided by some weight-loss medications may start to decline within months of stopping their use, highlighting the importance of not stopping treatment without consulting a doctor.
The study, published in BMJ Medicine, followed more than 333,000 people with type 2 diabetes over three years, including about 132,000 who used GLP-1 medications, such as "Ozempic," "Wegovy," and "Monjaro."
The results showed that those who continued to use these medications experienced an 18% reduction in the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, and death, compared to the reference group.
However, this benefit declined among those who stopped treatment. The risk of these events increased by 14% after one year of discontinuation, reaching a 22% increase after two years, compared to those who continued treatment. The results also indicated that resuming treatment helped restore some degree of heart protection, but not all.
Belfinder Deol, a pharmacist at "Happy Pharmacy" in the UK, stated that the results remind us that the effects of these medications are not limited to weight reduction.
He explained that the treatment may be associated with improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation indicators, which are factors affecting heart health, but these benefits may begin to decline after stopping treatment, even before the patient notices a return of weight gain.
Deol confirmed that some patients successfully stop using the medications after achieving their goals, but "the difference lies in stopping according to a planned approach in consultation with a doctor or pharmacist."
For his part, Dr. Ziyad Al-Ali, the lead researcher in the study and a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Washington's School of Medicine, noted that some patients stop treatment due to cost, side effects, or difficulty obtaining the medication.
He added that stopping may not only lead to weight regain but also to the return of some changes related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.
The new study focused on individuals with type 2 diabetes, so its findings cannot be directly applied to everyone using these medications solely for weight loss.
Experts advise individuals considering stopping treatment to speak with a doctor or pharmacist first, especially those with diabetes or those taking other medications to control blood sugar levels.
The study suggests that discontinuing weight-loss medications should be part of a clear treatment plan and not a sudden decision, with monitoring of weight, blood pressure, and sugar and cholesterol levels after stopping.