We have talked about GLP-1 weight-loss drugs here before – they seemingly came out of nowhere (at least in the public eye), have skyrocketed into a massive category, and promise to solve much more than just our weight issues. But they come with a massive downside (which, I am sure, big pharma won’t mind): you can’t get off them without losing all the benefits (and gains you made).
An analysis published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine found that most participants in a clinical trial who were assigned to stop taking tirzepatide (Zepbound from Eli Lilly) not only regained significant amounts of the weight they had lost on the drug, but they also saw their cardiovascular and metabolic improvements slip away. Their blood pressure went back up, as did their cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c (used to assess glucose control levels), and fasting insulin.
Another good reminder that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
↗ There may not be a safe off-ramp for some taking GLP-1 drugs, study suggests
