Will there be rebound after discontinuation of Semaglutide Injection?

Semaglutide injection (Wegovy) is a weight management (obesity) drug targeting the GLP-1 receptor. Its core function is not to "burn fat", but to help patients establish a new energy balance state by regulating central appetite and peripheral metabolism. Therefore, whether there will be a rebound after stopping the drug essentially depends on whether the body can still maintain this new balance after the drug is stopped.

From a pharmacological mechanism,Wegovy can significantly enhance the feeling of fullness, delay gastric emptying and reduce the urge to eat during use, while also inhibiting the preference for high-calorie foods in the reward system. When the drug is stopped, these exogenous adjustments gradually disappear, and the body will return to its original physiological control mode. If the patient fails to simultaneously establish a stable diet structure, eating rhythm and lifestyle changes during the medication period, it is expected that appetite signals will increase and food intake will increase. This is also an important reason for weight regain in some people.

Long-term follow-up studies suggest that weight regain is not caused by "drug dependence" itself, but is closely related to behavioral changes after drug withdrawal. GLP-1 receptor agonists do not permanently alter basal metabolic rate or damage adipocyte structure, so it is physiologically reasonable for weight gain to occur once energy intake again exceeds expenditure for a prolonged period. It should be emphasized that this rebound is not equivalent to "complete rebound back to the starting point". Many patients can still maintain some weight loss results under reasonable management.

In clinical practice, doctors usually regard Wegovy as a "tool" for weight management rather than a short-term rapid weight loss solution. Gradually discontinuing the drug, extending the tapering phase, and strengthening dietary and exercise intervention are important strategies to reduce the risk of weight regain. Some overseas guidelines also emphasize that for people with obesity who are chronic metabolic diseases, long-term or even maintenance treatment is one of the reasonable options, rather than simply "stopping after losing weight".

Reference materials:https://www.wegovy.com/