In real-world settings multiple factors contribute to non-persistence, including adverse effects, high cost-sharing and weight loss not meeting patients' expectations.

Wegovy and Zepbound are still hard to get. Knockoff versions from Noom, Ro, and others are filling in the gaps.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, more commonly known as GLP-1 medications, have dominated headlines for their success in managing blood sugar levels and drastically reducing weight. Between new clinical trial results and a boom in celebrity usage, the popularity of the medications increased drastically over the past two years.

To date, a number of clinical trials have shown weight regain after discontinuing GLP-1 drugs. In the STEP 1 trial extension, people who had been taking weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) along with a lifestyle intervention regained two-thirds of the weight they had lost a year after coming off the drug.

New research suggests GLP-1 medications like Ozempic may help reduce several health risks in addition to treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.