Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Concerned About Weight Gain After Ozempic or Wegovy? Here’s The Secret To Prevent It

While Ozempic or Wegovy offer weight loss benefits, a significant caveat is the risk of regaining the kilos. This is not only a waste of money and effort but may also affect overall health.

About 70 per cent of people who stop these drugs eventually regain much of the weight they lost, often within 18 months. 

Now, US researchers have developed a new minimally invasive procedure that resets the gut, and in early trials, has shown potential to help people maintain weight loss after stopping these popular drugs, which contain semaglutide — a GLP-1 receptor agonist — as the main ingredient.

Presenting the research at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026, the team noted that the procedure works by renewing the lining of the upper small intestine. It potentially “resets” metabolism and helps preserve the benefits of weight loss.

The technique is called duodenal mucosal resurfacing. In a clinical trial, people who underwent the procedure regained far less weight compared to others after discontinuing the medication.

"Finding a treatment that allows patients to stop these medications without weight regain or loss of metabolic benefit is a huge unmet need," said lead author Shelby Sullivan, director of the Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Program at Dartmouth Health Weight Center and professor of medicine.

"These findings indicate that this minimally invasive procedure may provide lasting weight-loss maintenance."

Duodenal mucosal resurfacing is an investigational endoscopic treatment that uses controlled heat to remove damaged tissue from the inner lining of the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine just below the stomach. 

This process, which ablates the unhealthy mucosal layer, encourages the growth of new, healthier tissue.

The treatment targets the small intestine, where many of the hormones affected by GLP-1 drugs are produced. Over time, diets high in fat and sugar can alter the lining of the duodenum, changing how the body processes food and regulates hormones. These changes can contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic disease.

By restoring a healthier mucosal layer, the procedure aims to reset the body's response to food, helping to stabilize metabolism at a lower body weight after stopping medications like Ozempic.

The findings are based on an early group of participants with six months of follow-up data. Among 45 people in this cohort, 29 received the resurfacing treatment while 16 underwent a sham procedure. 

All participants had previously lost at least 15 per cent of their body weight using tirzepatide before stopping the drug. On average, patients lost about 40 pounds while on GLP-1 therapy. Six months after discontinuing the medication, those in the control group regained significantly more weight. Participants who received the sham procedure regained about 40 per cent more weight than those who underwent the actual treatment.

In addition, patients who had more extensive resurfacing regained only about 7 pounds and kept more than 80 per cent of their weight loss.

By comparison, the control group regained roughly twice as much. The gap between the two groups continued to widen from one to six months after the procedure, suggesting the benefits may persist and even strengthen over time.

"What's particularly encouraging is that the benefit appears to increase over time rather than fade, and that it behaves like a drug in terms of dose response," Dr. Sullivan said. "That gives us confidence that we're targeting the right biology."

No serious complications were reported from either the device or the procedure. Recovery is relatively quick, with most patients returning to normal activities within about a day.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

wegovy

ozempic

weight gain

semaglutide

weight loss

glp 1 drug

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While Ozempic or Wegovy offer weight loss benefits, a significant caveat is the risk of regaining the kilos. This is not only a waste of money and effort but may also affect overall health.About 70 per cent of people who stop these drugs eventually regain much of the weight they lost, often within 18 months. Now, US researchers have developed a new minimally invasive procedure that resets the gut, and in early trials, has shown potential to help people maintain weight loss after stopping these popular drugs, which contain semaglutide — a GLP-1 receptor agonist — as the main ingredient.Presenting the research at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026, the team noted that the procedure works by renewing the lining of the upper small intestine. It potentially “resets” metabolism and helps preserve the benefits of weight loss.The technique is called duodenal mucosal resurfacing. In a clinical trial, people who underwent the procedure regained far less weight compared to others after discontinuing the medication."Finding a treatment that allows patients to stop these medications without weight regain or loss of metabolic benefit is a huge unmet need," said lead author Shelby Sullivan, director of the Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Program at Dartmouth Health Weight Center and professor of medicine."These findings indicate that this minimally invasive procedure may provide lasting weight-loss maintenance."How The Procedure WorksDuodenal mucosal resurfacing is an investigational endoscopic treatment that uses controlled heat to remove damaged tissue from the inner lining of the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine just below the stomach. This process, which ablates the unhealthy mucosal layer, encourages the growth of new, healthier tissue.The treatment targets the small intestine, where many of the hormones affected by GLP-1 drugs are produced. Over time, diets high in fat and sugar can alter the lining of the duodenum, changing how the body processes food and regulates hormones. These changes can contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic disease.By restoring a healthier mucosal layer, the procedure aims to reset the body's response to food, helping to stabilize metabolism at a lower body weight after stopping medications like Ozempic.How Was The Study Conducted?The findings are based on an early group of participants with six months of follow-up data. Among 45 people in this cohort, 29 received the resurfacing treatment while 16 underwent a sham procedure. All participants had previously lost at least 15 per cent of their body weight using tirzepatide before stopping the drug. On average, patients lost about 40 pounds while on GLP-1 therapy. Six months after discontinuing the medication, those in the control group regained significantly more weight. Participants who received the sham procedure regained about 40 per cent more weight than those who underwent the actual treatment.In addition, patients who had more extensive resurfacing regained only about 7 pounds and kept more than 80 per cent of their weight loss.By comparison, the control group regained roughly twice as much. The gap between the two groups continued to widen from one to six months after the procedure, suggesting the benefits may persist and even strengthen over time."What's particularly encouraging is that the benefit appears to increase over time rather than fade, and that it behaves like a drug in terms of dose response," Dr. Sullivan said. "That gives us confidence that we're targeting the right biology."No serious complications were reported from either the device or the procedure. Recovery is relatively quick, with most patients returning to normal activities within about a day.