Virta Health, a leader in diabetes reversal and sustainable weight loss with a nutrition-first approach, has officially published the results from a new report, which claims that people can maintain weight loss even after stopping GLP-1 medication with the right guidance and lifestyle support.
Going by the available details, the stated report found that those who gradually got rid of GLP-1s under medical guidance were eight times more likely to continue losing weight after stopping (56%), compared to the 7% who quit abruptly.
More on the same would reveal how Virta surveyed 500 U.S. adults who previously used GLP-1s for weight loss. Now, even though more than one in three (36%) experienced weight regain after GLP-1s, the data treads up a long distance to reveal how a structured and supported off-ramp makes all the difference for sustaining long-term weight loss.
Talk about the given results on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the way this survey highlights a critical difference in outcomes for people who are transitioning off GLP-1s using professional support, as compared to those who do so independently, with guidance tipped to significantly improve post-GLP-1 outcomes.
Next up, Virta’s report found that nearly half (45%) of U.S. adults, who stopped taking GLP-1s, were able to do so by gradually decreasing their dosage with guidance from a medical professional, whereas on the other hand, over one-third (36%) tapered off in combination through a specific lifestyle change or diet plan.
Another detail worth a mention here is rooted in a piece of discovery which says that 12% of users stopped their medications suddenly, but among those who failed to meet their weight loss goals, that number substantially shot up to a 25%.
On the other hand, if we focus on users who stuck with their healthy diet changes after stopping GLP-1s, over half (51%) maintained their weight, and a rather promising 43% continued to lose even more weight. Having said so, in a more concerning turn of events, no more 36% of users, off GLP-1s for 9 to 12 months, maintained their new dietary patterns.
Rounding up highlights would be the fact that this particular survey also revealed how a meager 26% of respondents used GLP-1s for 12 months or more.
Among other things, we ought to mention that survey was conducted between March 21 and April 1, 2025, and it was done so with adults aged 18 and older, who had stopped taking GLP-1 medications a minimum of six months ago.
“The doomed picture of life post-GLP-1s is a myth we’re actively debunking,” said Catherine Metzgar, PhD, RD, and health coach at Virta Health. “Our findings show that a personalized, nutrition-first approach, coupled with a professionally guided transition plan, can set people up to not only maintain their weight loss after GLP-1 use, but actually continue their journey. Ultimately, GLP-1s can ignite a path to durable health that lasts far beyond any prescription.”
