Weight-loss drugs are wildly popular. So much so that a recent study found about 1 in 8 Americans have tried them. The high demand initially led to nationwide shortages that have since resolved. A new study from researchers at the University of Oxford looked at patients on prescription weight-loss medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. They found that while the weight loss is impressive, it often comes rushing back once the medication is stopped. The analysis of 37 earlier studies also found that metabolic benefits, like lower cholesterol and blood pressure, tend to fade when treatment ends. And the weight returns about four times faster than it would if the loss was achieved strictly through diet and exercise. On average, the more than 9,000 patients gained back more than 14 ounces a month after they stopped taking the medication. At that pace, the researchers estimated their body weight would return to pre-treatment levels in about 19 months. Markers related to heart disease and the body’s ability to convert food into energy that improved while medication was taken were projected to return to base levels in less than 1½ years. The researchers identified several lessons from their study. First, about half of those with obesity taking the weight loss drugs stop taking them within a year. It may be that patients need to commit to the process for a longer period. Second, healthy diet and lifestyle habits should be the foundation for all obesity treatment.