London: People coming off weight-loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro should receive structured follow-up care for at least 12 months to help them avoid regaining the weight.
The recommendation comes from new guidance issued by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The advisory stresses that weight management must be approached as a long-term journey rather than a short-term fix.
Research and experience show that many patients tend to regain most of the weight they lost after stopping treatment. For instance, in clinical trials, people who discontinued Wegovy regained around two-thirds of the weight they had lost. A similar pattern has been seen in those who used Mounjaro.
Weight loss success shouldn't end when treatment stops.
Our updated quality standard ensures people get ongoing support to maintain healthy changes for life.
Healthcare services must now provide structured follow-up for at least a year.
Learn more: https://t.co/1C5WEjzJnD pic.twitter.com/nMpfyAI5J7
— NICE (@NICEComms) August 5, 2025
The NICE guidelines recommend that patients receive ongoing support after their treatment ends, including behavior-change strategies, the use of self-monitoring tools, and drawing upon various sources of encouragement, ranging from local community initiatives and family support to online communities.
In addition to medical guidance, patients are encouraged to build sustainable habits such as healthy eating, increased physical activity, going to the gym, or taking regular walks.
Prof Jonathan Benger from NICE remarked that, “Successful weight management doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme. “We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they’ve made,” Prof Benger added.
Prof Kamila Hawthorn from the Royal College of GPs said that, “There is no one-size fits all approach to tackling obesity, what works for one patient will likely not work for another. “We also need to see a greater focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don’t require a medical intervention later,” Prof Hawthorn noted.
Obesity remains a major public health issue in England, affecting approximately one in four adults. It can significantly impact individuals’ quality of life and increase their risk of developing serious conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Currently, an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight-loss jabs, but the vast majority are obtaining them privately, meaning they may not qualify for NHS assistance when they stop the medication.
Wegovy (semaglutide), which works by reducing appetite, is available on the NHS but only for people with serious weight-related health issues and a high body mass index (BMI). It can be prescribed for a maximum duration of two years. Mounjaro (tirzepatide), another appetite-suppressing injection, is expected to be made available to around 240,000 individuals in the UK over the next three years.
Unlike Wegovy, there is currently no set time limit for its prescription. Both drugs are used alongside structured weight-loss programmes focusing on dietary changes and increased physical activity and have been shown to lead to life-changing weight reductions for many users.
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