What Happens After GLP-1s? For More Than 1 in 3 Americans, the Weight Comes Back

What Happens After GLP-1s? For More Than 1 in 3 Americans, the Weight Comes Back

GLP-1 medications have taken the weight loss world by storm—touted as miracle drugs for helping people shed pounds quickly. But what happens when the shots stop?

That’s the question Virta Health set out to answer. In partnership with Wakefield Research, we surveyed 500 Americans who used GLP-1s for weight loss and stopped taking them at least six months ago. Our goal? To understand the real, unfiltered experience of life after the medication—and what it takes to sustain success.

Our top findings are below, and detailed in the corresponding report, Life After GLP-1s

“We commissioned this survey to better understand the real-world experience of people after stopping GLP-1s, a perspective that’s largely missing from the national conversation,” said Catherine Metzgar, PhD, RD, and health coach at Virta. “While these medications can kickstart weight loss, long-term success hinges on what comes next.”

Weight Regain Is Common—But It Doesn't Have to Be

More than 1 in 3 people (36%) regained some, all, or even more weight six months after stopping GLP-1s. That risk was even higher—54%—among those who didn’t reach their goals while on the medication.

So what’s getting in the way? As it turns out, weight loss success post-GLP-1 isn’t just about habits formed while on the medication—it’s about what happens after the last injection. Support and guidance matter!

The Off-Ramp Matters: Guidance vs. Cold Turkey

The most successful “GLP-1 graduates” weren’t lucky. They had support–and a strategy.

People who tapered off under medical guidance are eight times more likely to lose even more weight after stopping (56%), compared to those who quit abruptly (7%).

Even more telling: 12% of respondents stopped cold turkey, but among those who failed to meet their weight loss goals, that number shot up to 25%. Going it alone isn’t just hard—it’s risky.

“This mirrors what we’ve seen at Virta: long-term success takes more than just a prescription. It requires expert support, education, and sustainable lifestyle change,” said Metzgar.

Healthy Eating Habits Stick… When They’re Built to Last

The data shows that without ongoing support, healthy eating habits often don’t hold. Only 36% of those off GLP-1s for 9–12 months maintained their new dietary patterns, compared to 46% of those who had stopped more recently.

And generationally, many are backsliding: Gen Z and Millennials were the most likely to hit their weight loss goals on GLP-1s, but Millennials and Gen X were the most likely to drop healthy habits once the meds stopped, at 41% and 40% respectively, indicating adults in their hustle era need more support to make healthy habits stick.

But here’s the bright spot: Among those who stuck with their diet changes, 51% maintained their weight—and 43% continued to lose after stopping the meds, emphasizing the power of lifestyle change. 

“As a clinician and nutrition scientist, I’ve seen just how powerful GLP-1s can be in jumpstarting weight loss—but I’ve also seen the confusion, frustration, and setbacks that often follow when the prescription ends," said Metzgar. “At Virta, we deliver sustained weight loss with or without GLP-1s. Medication can help change the scale, but sustainable change happens when people are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and support to take control of their health—long after the injections stop. A personalized, nutrition-first approach doesn’t just work; it empowers people to reclaim their health and live life free from chronic disease and lifelong medication.”

Methodology 

This survey was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Virta Health. Virta commissioned this research to capture the perspective of 500 nationally representative U.S. adults on their experiences with GLP-1s for weight loss. The survey was fielded between March 21 and April 1, 2025, using an email invitation and online questionnaire, with adults ages 18 and older who stopped taking GLP-1 medications a minimum of six months ago. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

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