Continuing vs discontinuing your medication after reaching your goal weight

Reaching your goal weight is exciting, and once you do, it makes sense that plenty of people start asking if you should stay on medication or stop it altogether. The short answer is there’s no one right course of action for everyone, and it comes down to what’s best for you as an individual.

Some people choose to stay on a maintenance dose of the medication to support appetite control and long-term weight stability. Others move off the medication eventually, and instead rely on lifestyle-based maintenance, managing their weight through nutrition, movement, and behavioural habits alone. Both approaches can work, depending on your individual circumstances.

Remember that any decision about medication should always be made with clinical guidance.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the potential benefits, challenges, and outcomes of both continuing and discontinuing treatment. That way, you can have an informed conversation with your clinician to determine what option’s right for you.

Key points

• Continuing medication can support ongoing appetite control and reduce food noise, both of which can help prevent weight regain.
• Stopping medication doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll regain the weight, but it often results in changes in hunger and fullness, which can make maintenance more challenging.
• Research shows that weight regain after stopping treatment is common, making it a common biological occurrence and not a lack of willpower .
• Whether you continue or stop medication, sustainable lifestyle and diet habits remain essential for long-term success.

What does the maintenance phase of weight loss medication actually involve?

The weight loss maintenance phase begins when the focus shifts from actively losing weight to keeping your current weight. Instead of continuing to increase your dosage or focusing on weight loss, maintenance prioritises finding a stable dose that supports your progress while minimising side effects.

This transition is an important part of the process.

Maintenance doesn't mean medication does all the work

Even during maintenance, medication is simply a tool that can help your weight loss. The habits you build around nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management play a central role in your long-term success. The maintenance dose of your treatment should support those habits rather than create reliance on medication alone.

What happens if you continue taking medication?

Obesity is increasingly recognised as a chronic condition that may require ongoing management for some people, much like other long-term health conditions. Continuing medication after reaching your goal weight can offer several benefits:

• ongoing appetite regulation and reduced food noise
• improved feelings of fullness between meals
• support in maintaining lifestyle changes over time
• clinical oversight to ensure treatment remains safe and appropriate

Maintenance treatment can help counter some of the biological adaptations that occur after weight loss. When you lose weight, your body often adjusts by increasing appetite hormones and reducing satiety signals. Continued medication can help manage those shifts.

How long do people stay on maintenance treatment?

This varies considerably. Some people use maintenance treatment for a relatively short period after reaching their goal weight. Others remain on medication for years as part of an ongoing management plan.

There is no universal timeline, and what works for one person may not suit another. Decisions about how long to stay on treatment should always be made with your clinician based on your individual health, appetite levels, and treatment goals.

Considering your options? Our IMC-registered doctors can help you find the right treatment plan for your maintenance phase.

What happens when you stop weight loss medication?

Some people choose to stop medication for personal, lifestyle, financial, or clinical reasons, and this is a valid decision to make alongside your clinician.

However, stopping treatment often leads to noticeable changes. Many people experience:

• increased hunger between meals
• reduced feelings of fullness after eating
• return of food noise and persistent thoughts about food
• a higher risk of weight regain over time

The STEP 1 trial extension found that participants regained around two-thirds of their prior weight loss within one year of stopping semaglutide. This doesn't mean stopping is the wrong choice, but it does highlight the importance of having a plan in place before discontinuing treatment.

Why weight regain often occurs after stopping treatment

There are plenty of reasons why weight regain happens after stopping treatment, and it doesn’t mean that treatment failed. It reflects the biological reality that appetite hormones and satiety signals may shift back towards pre-treatment patterns once medication is removed.

These biological adaptations are a normal response. They're part of why obesity is increasingly treated as a chronic condition rather than something that can be permanently resolved with a single course of treatment.

If you decide to stop, don't do it without a plan

Discontinuation isn't simply a case of stopping your medication and carrying on as normal. NICE recommends that people coming off weight management treatment should be offered structured support to help maintain their results.

Before stopping, discuss your plans with your clinician. A structured maintenance plan that includes nutrition guidance, physical activity, and follow-up appointments can improve your chances of maintaining weight loss long term.

Alternatives and support after stopping medication

If you decide to stop medication, several forms of support can help you maintain your progress:

• ongoing lifestyle support around nutrition and physical activity
• dietitian support for balanced meal planning
• exercise specialists to help build and maintain a sustainable routine
• behavioural and psychological support for managing habits and motivation
• structured weight management programmes

Are there other treatment options?

Some people may be suited to alternative treatments during the maintenance phase. Other clinically appropriate medications may be considered depending on your health profile, treatment history, and preferences.

Suitability varies and should always be discussed with your healthcare professional. Our clinicians can help you explore what options may be appropriate for your circumstances.

Continuing vs discontinuing: a side-by-side comparison

Here’s a quick breakdown that can help you determine if continuing medication or discontinuing altogether is the right choice for you:

Which option is right for you?

There is no universal answer. The right decision depends on a combination of factors, including:

• how well your appetite is managed without medication
• your weight history and how your body has responded to treatment
• your confidence in your maintenance habits
• any ongoing side effects
• your overall health and any weight-related conditions
• your personal preferences and lifestyle

The most helpful thing you can do is have an open, ongoing conversation with your clinician about how you're feeling and what level of support you need.

The most important thing isn't whether you continue or stop

"Whether someone continues medication or transitions to lifestyle-based maintenance, the foundation is the same. Long-term success depends on sustainable habits around nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management. Medication is a valuable tool that supports those habits, but it doesn't replace them. What matters most is that each person has the right level of support to maintain their progress confidently."

Niya Mansuri, Weight Loss Expert at myBMI

Whatever path you choose, nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management remain essential. Different maintenance journeys can be equally successful when they're supported by the right habits and the right clinical guidance.

If you'd like to discuss your maintenance options, our IMC-registered doctors are here to help.

FAQs

Should I stop taking weight loss medication when I reach my goal weight?

Not necessarily. Reaching your goal weight doesn't automatically mean treatment should end. For some people, continuing medication as part of a maintenance plan can help support appetite control and long-term weight stability. The right approach should always be discussed with your clinician.

Can I stay on weight loss medication long term?

Yes, some people remain on treatment long term as part of an ongoing weight management plan. Obesity is increasingly recognised as a chronic condition, and maintenance treatment may be appropriate for some individuals. Your clinician can help determine what's right for you.

What happens if I stop taking weight loss medication?

Many people notice an increase in hunger, reduced feelings of fullness, and the return of food noise after stopping treatment. These changes can make maintaining weight loss more challenging, which is why it's important to have a maintenance plan in place before discontinuing medication.

Will I regain weight if I stop weight loss medication?

Not everyone regains weight, but weight regain is common after stopping treatment. This is often linked to biological changes in appetite and satiety rather than a lack of willpower. Building sustainable habits can help support maintenance if you choose to stop medication.

How long should I stay on a maintenance dose?

There is no set timeline. Some people remain on a maintenance dose for only a short period, while others continue treatment for years. Decisions about treatment duration should be made in partnership with your clinician. For more information, explore our guide on how long you should stay on your maintenance dose.

What is a maintenance dose of weight loss medication?

A maintenance dose is the dose used after reaching your weight loss goal to help maintain your results. The aim is to find a level of treatment that supports appetite management and weight stability while minimising side effects. For more information about each treatment, check out our guide on maintenance doses.

Can I restart weight loss medication if I regain weight?

Potentially, yes. However, treatment should only be restarted following a clinical assessment. Your clinician can review your circumstances and recommend the most appropriate next steps. We discuss this in-depth in our guide on restarting weight loss medication.

What should I focus on if I stop taking medication?

Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and regular monitoring all become especially important if you discontinue treatment. Many people find that structured support helps them maintain their results more confidently.

Is continuing medication better than stopping it?

Neither option is universally better. Some people feel more confident maintaining their weight with continued treatment, while others prefer a lifestyle-based approach. The best choice is the one that aligns with your health needs, preferences, and long-term goals with appropriate clinical support.

Sources

• Lifestyle changes to treat obesity. (2025) HSE. [Accessed 30 August 2026]
• Keeping active. (2023) gov.ie. [Accessed 25 August 2026]
• Eating well. (2025) gov.ie. [Accessed 25 August 2026]
• How do I maintain my weight loss? (2026) NHS Inform. [Accessed 25 August 2026]
• Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. (2022) Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. [Accessed 30 August 2026]
• Medicines to treat obesity. HSE. [Accessed 30 August 2026]
• Obesity as a chronic disease: a narrative review of evolving definitions, management strategies, and cardiometabolic prioritization. (2025) Advances in Therapy, Springer Nature. [Accessed 30 August 2026]
• People need support to keep weight off after treatment ends. (2025) NICE. [Accessed 30 August 2026]