Recent research shows that structured support may help with weight maintenance after stopping GLP-1s. licensed miniseries · E+/Getty * Most people regain a significant portion of the weight they lost within 1 year of stopping GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Zepbound). * A small study found that structured support, including a digital weight management app or medically tailored meals, may help slow weight regain after stopping GLP-1 medications. * Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and ongoing medical support may help people maintain weight loss, while some may benefit from continuing GLP-1 medications long-term. Weight regain is common after stopping GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). In fact, previous research has shown that most people regain at least half of their lost weight within 1 year of stopping treatment, with weight regain often accelerating during the first 3–4 months. However, a new study suggests that structured support, including a weight management app or medically tailored meals, may help slow weight regain after discontinuing GLP-1 medications. The small study, published October 7 in Obesity Science & Practice, found that participants who received either intervention regained significantly less weight over four months than those receiving usual care. How researchers tested ways to limit weight regain after stopping GLP-1s The study included 39 adults with an average age of 50, an average weight of 189 pounds, and an average body mass index (BMI) of 31.4. All participants had lost more than 10% of their body weight while taking GLP-1 medications and had stopped treatment within the previous 30 days. All participants also completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study and used Bluetooth scales to track their weight at home throughout the four-month period. Researchers randomly assigned participants to one of the following three groups: Usual care Participants continued to receive care from their healthcare providers, which may include nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle counseling from a clinician or registered dietitian. The type and amount of support varied depending on the provider’s recommendations and available resources. The researchers did not provide any additional intervention. Digital weight management app Participants received a subscription to Noom, an app that uses behavioral strategies to support weight loss and maintenance. These include tracking food intake, exercise, and weight, as well as educational lessons on the psychological, physiological, social, and environmental factors that influence eating behaviors. The app also provides tools to help users recognize and manage triggers that may lead to overeating. Participants were encouraged to use the app for at least 15 minutes daily, including completing lessons, logging food, and tracking their weight. Medically tailored meals These are typically nutrient-dense meals developed by registered dietitians to meet the nutritional needs of people with specific health conditions, such as chronic kidney disease or uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. For this study, participants in this group selected 10 portion-controlled, “weight wellness” meals each week from more than 70 options, which were delivered to their homes. Medically tailored meals and wellness app slowed weight regain After four months, participants who received either medically tailored meals or access to the digital weight management app experienced significantly less weight regain than those receiving usual care. The estimated weight regain was 10.75% of body weight in the usual-care group, compared with 3.6% in the Noom group and 3.58% in the medically tailored meals group. Although participants in all three groups regained weight, the findings suggest that structured nutritional or behavioral support may help limit weight regain after stopping GLP-1 medications. “These findings highlight the benefits of ongoing support for patients on a weight loss journey,” said Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Ali wasn’t involved in the study. Denise Pate, MD, a board certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan who was also not involved in the study, told Healthline that the findings are significant “because they show that obesity management is multifactorial, not only medication, but the combination of types of meals and behavioral change all play a role.” However, because this was a small, four-month study, larger, longer-term trials are needed to determine whether these approaches can help people maintain weight loss over time after stopping GLP-1 medications. Should you stay on GLP-1 medications long term? Ali noted that research suggests GLP-1 medications are most effective for weight management when taken long-term. “Obesity needs to be recognized and treated as a chronic condition, similar to diabetes or hypertension,” he said. Pate agreed, emphasizing that obesity is not always recognized as a chronic condition that may require ongoing treatment. “I feel that the medical community, insurance, and the population as a whole have yet to fully accept obesity as a chronic medical condition, which it most definitely is for a large part of patients. For this reason, I think patients should stay on these medications long term if needed,” she said. “GLP-1 medications are highly effective tools for transitioning to a healthier diet and lifestyle, which for most people may require long-term use,” Ali added. Ways to maintain weight loss after stopping GLP-1 medications Pate explained that one of the goals of GLP-1 medications is to help people eat smaller portions by recognizing when they feel full and stopping when they do. “I tell my patients from the start, this is the goal,” she said, adding that she hopes patients will retain those habits after stopping treatment. Ali recommended maintaining a balanced diet rich in protein and vegetables while limiting added sugars and refined carbohydrates. He added that tracking apps and regular follow-up appointments with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian may also help people maintain their progress. “Patients need to understand that the GLP medication is not a miracle drug, although with the dramatic weight loss, it can be perceived as such. It is only a tool to be used in conjunction with an exercise routine as well as a healthy diet,” Pate said.

Discover the top 10 apps to track New Year resolutions in 2026, featuring powerful tools for habits, productivity, wellness, and long-term goals.

DigiTrends, a leading name in digital transformation and mobile app development across the healthcare industry, has been named Top Health and Wellness App Developers of 2025 by Clutch. This recognitio...

Explore 10 top meditation & wellness apps of 2025 to reduce stress, sleep better, and boost mental health. Features, prices & expert tips included.

Homescreen Heroes: Balance

Learn types, features, challenges, costs & monetization strategies in our complete wellness app development guide for startups & entrepreneurs.

Homescreen Heroes: Balance

In het kort OpenAI is de markt voor AI in de gezondheidszorg betreden met ChatGPT Health, een speciale chatbot die is ontworpen voor vragen over gezondheid. Met dit nieuwe aanbod kunnen gebruikers hun medische dossiers, wellnessapps en wearables koppelen om gepersonaliseerd advies te krijgen over onderwerpen als het begrijpen van testresultaten, het voorbereiden van doktersafspraken, […] The post OpenAI lanceert ChatGPT Health: AI-chatbot voor persoonlijk medisch advies appeared first on Newsmonkey.

Background: University students are facing a multitude of challenges and an increase in mental health issues that affect their academic performance and overall well-being. In response, Erasmus University Rotterdam launched the Student Wellbeing Programme in 2019, offering comprehensive, tailored support through a stepped-care framework to enhance student success and well-being. One of the tools developed for students is ROOM to Grow, an anonymous and accessible preventative mental health app. Objective: This paper describes the process and outcomes of ROOM’s design and development, guided by the Centre for eHealth Research (CeHRes) road map and privacy-by-design principles, and highlights the lessons learned throughout this process. Methods: This paper describes the first 4 phases of the CeHRes Road map: contextual inquiry, value specification, design, and operationalization. It outlines the population (ie, stakeholders), methods (ie, literature reviews, expert groups, cognitive walkthroughs, interviews, experimental designs), and outcomes of each phase. Results: The most common mental health struggles among our target population were stress, anxiety symptoms, perfectionistic tendencies, and loneliness. Students often recognized these issues only once they became overwhelming. Regarding digital tools, students seek credible content specific to their experiences, as well as adaptable and intuitive systems; they are mindful of data privacy and aim to reduce their screen time. ROOM was developed to address the diverse needs and preferences of university students through a transdiagnostic approach to mental health. It targets emotion regulation (ER) skills and self-awareness, which underlie the mental health challenges experienced by our target users. ROOM comprises 26 brief exercises (ie, micro-interventions) that support the development and use of adaptive ER. The exercises incorporate techniques from various therapeutic approaches (ie, self-compassion, positive psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy) to accommodate students’ diverse content preferences. To help students recognize their struggles earlier, ROOM includes a mood tracker and a self-assessment module with questionnaires that evaluate both traits (eg, perfectionistic tendencies) and states (eg, stress levels), providing personalized feedback. ROOM further implements an intelligent recommender system that connects users to relevant content, enhancing the tool’s personalization and responsiveness to users’ needs. As students aim to minimize screen time, ROOM’s goal is not prolonged app use but the application of ER skills in real life, supported by features that facilitate skill transfer into everyday settings. Finally, ROOM was developed within a “privacy-by-design” framework to address students’ privacy concerns, implementing strict privacy and security regulatory standards. Conclusions: Compromises were necessary to balance user needs, resource constraints, and privacy-by-design and security standards, often limiting ROOM’s interactivity. Other challenges included simplifying complex psychological concepts into brief formats, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, balancing academic rigor with industry production pace, and operating with fixed resources while maintaining an iterative process. This paper may serve as a primer for designing transdiagnostic, adaptive mental health interventions for youth, blending therapeutic approaches and promoting skill transfer.

Homescreen Heroes: Balance

Digital Mental Health Market growth is projected to reach USD 152.31 Billion, at a 18.54% CAGR by driving industry size, share, top company analysis, segments research, trends and forecast report 2025...

Planning to invest in health and wellness app development? Explore its perks, types, features, trends, challenges, and more through the blog!

Homescreen Heroes: Balance

Homescreen Heroes: 95% of Balance users claim they experience less stress, and I’m one of them

Homescreen Heroes: Balance

Fitness App Market Size is Projected to Grow a Valuation of USD 661.08 Billion by 2035, Growing at a CAGR of 27.62% During the Forecast Period 2025 - 2035

Homescreen Heroes: 95% of Balance users claim they experience less stress, and I’m one of them

Homescreen Heroes: Balance