People who stop using the weight-loss jab Mounjaro (tirzepatide) tend to regain weight and lose key health improvements, including lower blood pressure and reduced “bad” cholesterol, according to new research.
Data from the Surmount-4 clinical trial showed that after stopping the drug, 82% of participants regained at least 25% of the weight they had lost within a year. Researchers also found that as weight returned, improvements in waist size, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure largely reversed.
Experts say the findings are not surprising, as excess weight is closely linked to poor cardiometabolic health. They warned that stopping the medication may also remove potential heart-protective effects seen in previous studies.
The research highlights the challenge of long-term weight management and suggests lasting benefits may depend on continued treatment and sustainable diet and exercise habits. Some experts also cautioned that weight-loss injections do not always build long-term healthy behaviours, making rebound weight gain more likely once treatment ends.
