Danish researchers examined data from over 77,000 adults using anti-obesity drugs without diabetes. They discovered that 52 percent quit within one year. Eighteen percent stopped after three months, 31 percent after six months, and 42 percent after nine months.
Professor Reimar W. Thomsen from Aarhus University said patients lose appetite-control benefits when they stop treatment. He warned that the drugs must be taken long term to remain effective.
Cost, Age, and Gender Shape Dropout Rates
Younger adults under 30 quit at higher rates than older groups. Compared with people aged 45 to 59, younger adults were 48 percent more likely to stop within a year. Men quit more often than women, while residents of poorer areas stopped sooner than wealthier ones.
Patients with chronic conditions or past use of psychiatric and gastrointestinal drugs also abandoned treatment more often, possibly due to side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
Price created another barrier. In Denmark, a month of Ozempic costs up to €313 unless covered for type 2 diabetes. By contrast, the same supply costs around €120 in Germany, making continued use harder in lower-income areas.
Public Debate Grows Over Long-Term Use
GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy reduce appetite by mimicking natural hormones. Millions rely on them for weight management, but many regain weight after quitting. This fuels debate over whether patients must take them for life.
The findings, not yet published in a journal, will appear at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Vienna.
Thomsen said health systems must strengthen support for patients. He stressed that these drugs lower risks of cancer, addiction, and heart disease, making adherence crucial.
“With over half of European adults overweight, we must identify who needs help staying on treatment,” Thomsen said. “Encouraging adherence will improve health outcomes and quality of life.”
