2026/10/10 11:33
Schematic diagram of Shou Shou needle injection. Studies have pointed out that after stopping weight loss drugs and having a meal designed by a digital health manager or nutritionist, the weight gain will be smaller. (File photo)
[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] After the slimming injection is stopped, the appetite may increase again, and the weight lost may also gradually return. A small human trial in the United States that included 39 people found that after stopping weight loss drugs and using a digital health app or meals designed by a nutritionist, the weight gain within 4 months was lower than that of the general care group. However, the study scale is small and the follow-up time is short, so it is not yet confirmed whether these methods can slow the recurrence of obesity in the long term.
According to Newsweek, this study was conducted by researchers from Tufts University and UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the results were published in Obesity Science & Practice on October 7. The research team hopes to understand whether providing systematic diet and life support after discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists can reduce weight gain.
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The trial included 39 adults, divided into three groups, who received general care, used a digital health app, or received meals designed by a nutritionist, and were followed for 4 months. The app group used the app for at least 15 minutes each day to record diet, exercise, and weight, and to obtain information on the physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence eating behavior, as well as tools to manage these factors.
The meal group received more nutrient-dense meals designed by nutritionists, including participants with diet-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease patients with poor blood sugar control. Participants can choose 10 meals from 70 types every week, which will be delivered to their homes by the service unit.
The digital tools and nutritious meal group gained less weight
The 4-month follow-up results showed that the weight of the general care group increased by approximately 10.75%, that of the digital health application group increased by 3.6%, and that of the meal group increased by 3.58%. Both support groups experienced less weight gain than the usual care group, but weight gain was not completely avoided. Since the trial only had 39 participants, these results still need to be confirmed in larger studies.
Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, one of the study authors and a research assistant professor at Tufts University, said that some patients may receive less support for lifestyle and behavior changes while taking GLP-1 drugs. After discontinuing medication, when hunger and appetite reappear, it may be more difficult to maintain weight without strategies to manage eating and lifestyle habits.
Caroline Apovian, a professor at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital, pointed out that after stopping GLP-1 drugs, the body may promote weight gain through physiological reactions such as increasing hunger and reducing satiety. She believes that diet planning, behavioral support and exercise should be carried out together. Resistance training and increasing muscle mass may also help weight management.
However, Abovian also pointed out that life intervention may only be a short-term solution, and there is still a lack of hormonal intervention that can ensure continued maintenance of a lower body weight after discontinuation of medication. The study authors said that future longer-term studies are needed to confirm the lasting effects of these support measures and how long they need to be maintained after the drugs are stopped.
