Friday 27/March/2026 – 03:51 PM
A recent study revealed that stopping GLP-1 medications, used to treat diabetes andWeight lossmay result in a rapid loss of the cardiac benefits that patients gain over years of regular use.
Study: Stopping weight loss medications may harm heart health
These drugs, such as Ozempic and Wijovi, as well as Mongaro, include a proven ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as improving health factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin resistance.
The study, published in BMJ Medicine, showed that regular use of these medications for 3 years reduces the risk of heart disease by up to 18%.
But the surprise was how quickly these benefits declined, as cardiac protection begins to fade within a few months of stopping.
The results also showed that reusing the drug later gives only a partial improvement, as the risks decrease by 12%, compared to 18% when continuing without interruption.
Why do the benefits disappear?
The researchers explained that GLP-1 medications are not limited to weight loss, but also affect several vital factors such as inflammation, sugar levels, and blood pressure, and when stopped, these indicators return to deterioration, which restores the risk of heart disease.
Experts stressed that these medications should be part of a long-term treatment plan that includes a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and commitment to treatment without interruption. Doctors stressed that suddenly stopping an essential element of treatment may lead to the disease returning at a rapid pace.
