Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

• A new Health survey found that many GLP-1 users are unsure what happens when they stop taking the medication.
• Experts say stopping a GLP-1 can affect more than just weight—it can also change cravings and other health markers.
• Experts say having a plan—focused on diet, exercise, and monitoring changes—is key to maintaining results after discontinuation.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have helped millions of Americans lose weight and take control of their health—but what happens when you stop taking them? That’s one of the biggest questions many users have, according to a new survey from Health.

Sixty-two percent of current GLP-1 users said there isn’t enough information or support on what to do when they stop the medication. And it’s not just weight regain they’re worried about—it’s what life after a GLP-1 might look like, from cravings returning to losing ground on other health gains.

Here’s what can happen to your body if you stop taking GLP-1s, what experts say about tapering and follow-up care, and how to maintain your health after getting off the medication.

What Happens When You Stop Taking a GLP-1?

Every patient is different, but if you stop taking a  GLP-1, you may notice changes in cravings, weight, and cardiometabolic health over time. 

Research published in January 2026 found that patients who stopped taking GLP-1s returned to their baseline weight within about two years. And the beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers, like blood pressure and cholesterol, also reversed, returning to baseline after about 1.5 years.

Health’s survey identified the same challenges among lapsed users: About one in five said their cravings returned (22%), and 20% said they had already regained some or all of the weight they had lost.

These changes happen because GLP-1s only work while the medication is active in the body, Priya Jaisinghani, MD, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health, told Health. When the medication stops, the body goes back to its baseline, she said. 

“It’s like stopping a statin or blood pressure medication—your cholesterol or blood pressure will go back up,” added Mihail Zilbermint, MD, director of Endocrine Hospitalists at the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. “The issue is not withdrawal; the issue is the medication is not there in the body.”

Should You Taper Off a GLP-1?

There are no standard guidelines for getting off GLP-1s, so an individualized plan is crucial for minimizing weight gain and maximizing long-term health, Jaisinghani said.

“GLP-1 medications are not a short-term reset but part of long-term disease management,” Zilbermint told Health. “If you decide to stop, you need a strategy, because the biology will push back.”

For some people, tapering off a GLP-1 may be beneficial because it can give them more time to adjust to necessary lifestyle changes to maintain results, Zilbermint said. But without healthy habits, weight gain and reversal of cardiometabolic benefits appear to be unaffected by whether someone tapers off or stops taking the drug abruptly, he noted.

Overall, experts recommend working with your physician before stopping the medication. For some people, discontinuing GLP-1s may make sense, but for most users—especially those with ongoing obesity or metabolic disease—longer-term treatment may be helpful.

How to Maintain Your Health After GLP-1s

If you stop taking a GLP-1, maintaining weight loss may be one major priority, but it’s also important to protect other health gains, including healthier eating habits, improved cardiometabolic markers, and other lifestyle changes.

After GLP-1s, “lifestyle is no longer a supporting player,” Zilbermint said. “When you stop the medication, it becomes the primary player.”

A well-rounded care team—such as your prescribing physician, a dietitian, a personal trainer, and a therapist—can help you build and maintain healthy habits around diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management, which are all key to maintaining weight and health after stopping GLP-1s. 

It’s also important to keep track of your health measurements—keeping an eye on your weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and other cardiometabolic markers can provide clues on how your body is responding to the change. Jaisinghani also recommended monitoring more subjective changes, like increased hunger and cravings.

“The key here is to catch small changes early,” said Zilbermint. “It’s much easier to intervene when you gain 2 or 3 pounds than 20 pounds.”

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Kristina Dawson