### Why Do Most People Stop Taking Weight Loss Drugs Within Two Years? According to a recent analysis, more than 80% of people who start taking weight loss drugs stop within two years. The study looked at insurance claims data for 3,364 people who began using GLP-1 agonists, a class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy. The average age of participants was 46.5 years, and 81% were women. The findings showed that 85% of people stopped taking these drugs within two years, and 71% stopped within one year. The research was conducted by Magellan Rx Management and Prime Therapeutics, both pharmacy benefit management companies. The study excluded people with diabetes, focusing on those who were overweight or obese and started taking the drugs in 2021. The researchers noted that the high discontinuation rate is concerning because the benefits of GLP-1 drugs are unlikely to be realized if they are stopped early. They highlighted the need for better obesity care management programs to improve adherence to these therapies. GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking hormones that make you feel full, but they can have side effects like stomach issues. They are also expensive and sometimes in short supply. Clinical trials have shown that some people can lose more than 20% of their body weight, but discontinuation due to side effects is common. Other studies have shown that weight regain is common after stopping these drugs. For example, a study by Novo Nordisk found that people who took Wegovy for about 16 months lost an average of 17% of their body weight but regained two-thirds of the weight within a year after stopping the treatment.