Half of Wegovy patients stop treatment within a year

Nearly half of Danes prescribed the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy discontinue their treatment within the first year, according to a new study from Aarhus University. The research tracked 157,822 individuals who started the medication between December 2022 and November 2024, following their progress for 18 months.

The findings reveal that 49 percent of users stopped taking Wegovy before completing a full year of treatment. This high discontinuation rate is attributed by researchers to side effects and the financial burden of the medication. Professor Reimar W. Thomsen, a lead researcher on the study, stated that appetite returns forcefully after stopping the drug, making weight regain almost impossible to resist.

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We have strong evidence that when you stop the medication, the appetite returns strongly, and you gain weight. It is almost impossible to fight against.

Previous research, including a study reported by Financial Times in January, indicated that patients who stop weight-loss medication often regain lost weight within two years. Participants in 37 studies lost an average of 8.3 kilograms but returned to their original weight less than 21 months after discontinuing treatment. The positive effects on cardiovascular health, cholesterol, and blood pressure also disappeared within 18 months of stopping the drug.

According to Denmark's Health Authority, Wegovy's effectiveness relies on continuous use. The medication works by suppressing appetite and slowing digestion. Once treatment ceases, these effects wear off, leading to increased hunger and potential weight gain. The drug's efficacy is thus limited to the period of active treatment.

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Wegovy only works as long as you take it.