Health risks identified for patients cycling or stopping GLP-1 weight loss drugs
GLP-1 drugs were designed and tested for long-term treatment of diabetes and obesity, but growing numbers of people are using them off-label for short-term weight loss — microdosing, cycling on and off, or brief stints before weddings. A Danish study found roughly half of adults stopped semaglutide for obesity within 12 months. Experts warn stopping can lead to weight regain and worsened heart health and blood pressure, and mouse research found cycling made them less effective. No guidance exists yet on stopping safely; a 16-week Toronto trial is comparing tapering off with stopping abruptly.
Patients are asking frontline workers about GLP-1s for quick weight loss — this explains the risks of stopping and cycling, and that there is no safe way to quit yet.
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News source: Health risks identified for patients cycling or stopping GLP-1 weight loss drugs (opens in a new tab) — CBC News