Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41500720›Full record

SynthesisBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2026

Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sam West, Jadine Scragg, Paul Aveyard, Jason L Oke, Lia Willis, Stella J P Haffner, Heather Knight, Danni Wang, Sarah Morrow, Laura Heath and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  9. Pharmacotherapy in obstructive sleep apnoea: a clinical guide.Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung · 2026
    Review
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  11. The evolving landscape of obesity pharmacotherapy.Nature reviews. Drug discovery · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sam WestNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK sam.west@phc.ox.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-5432-863X
Jadine ScraggNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Paul AveyardNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Jason L OkeNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Lia WillisNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Stella J P HaffnerNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Heather KnightNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Danni WangNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Sarah MorrowNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Laura HeathNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Susan A JebbNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Dimitrios A KoutoukidisNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo quantify and compare the rate of weight regain after cessation of weight management medications (WMMs) in adults with overweight or obesity.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis. STUDY SELECTION: Trial registries and databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and trial registries) were searched from inception until February 2025 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised trials, and observational studies that included WMM (≥8 weeks) with follow-up for ≥4 weeks after cessation of treatment in adults with overweight or obesity. Comparators were any non-drug weight loss intervention or placebo. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Two independent reviewers screened titles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool for RCTs and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomised trials. Data were analysed using mixed effect, meta-regression, and time-to-event models. Weight regain after cessation of WMM was compared with that reported after cessation of behavioural weight management programmes (BWMPs).

main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was rate of weight regain from end of treatment, with associated changes in cardiometabolic markers as a secondary outcome.

resultsOf the 9288 titles screened, 37 studies (63 intervention arms, 9341 participants) were included. Average treatment duration was 39 (range 11-176) weeks, with average follow-up of 32 (4-104) weeks. The average monthly rate of weight regain was 0.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3 to 0.5) (mixed model 0.3 kg (0.2 to 0.4) monthly

conclusionsThis review found that cessation of WMM is followed by rapid weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers. Regain after WMM was faster than after BWMP. These findings suggest caution in short term use of these drugs without a more comprehensive approach to weight management. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024532069.

Indexed as

Anti-Obesity AgentsObesityOverweightWeight GainAdultHumansWeight LossAnti-Obesity Agents

Identifiers

PMID41500720
PMCPMC12776922

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.