A new study from Denmark shows that many people without diabetes who start taking the popular weight-loss drug semaglutide stop using it within a year.
Semaglutide is part of a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which are known for helping people lose weight by reducing appetite and making them feel full faster.
Although the drug works well, researchers found that about half of the 77,000 adults who began using semaglutide for weight loss stopped taking it within 12 months. The study, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference, raises concerns about how people are using these medications in the real world.
“These drugs are not meant to be short-term fixes,” explained lead researcher Professor Reimar W. Thomsen from Aarhus University in Denmark. “The benefits go away if people stop taking the medication.”
Originally developed to treat diabetes, semaglutide is now being used for weight loss. But it’s expensive and may worsen health inequalities, especially since obesity tends to affect low-income and marginalized groups more often.
Researchers studied national health records in Denmark from December 2022 to October 2023. They looked at all adults over 18 who didn’t have diabetes but started semaglutide for weight loss. Of these, over 40,000 people (about 52%) had stopped taking it within a year. About 18% stopped within 3 months, 31% within 6 months, and 42% within 9 months.
So why are so many people quitting?
One major reason is cost. As of June 2025, even the lowest dose of semaglutide costs around 2,000 Euros a year. The study found that younger adults aged 18–29 were 48% more likely to stop taking the drug compared to those aged 45–59. People living in low-income areas were also 14% more likely to quit than those in wealthier areas.
Side effects are another issue. People who had already used medications for stomach problems were 9% more likely to stop, likely because they were more sensitive to side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea—common problems with GLP-1RAs.
Similarly, people with a history of psychiatric medications were 12% more likely to quit, and those with heart disease or other chronic conditions were 10% more likely to stop using the drug.
Interestingly, men were 12% more likely to quit semaglutide than women. This may be because women tend to lose more weight on these medications than men, so men might feel the drug isn’t working well enough for them.
Professor Thomsen said the findings give valuable insight into why so many people stop taking semaglutide early. With more than half of European adults living with overweight or obesity, it’s important to understand who benefits most from long-term treatment and how to support people to stick with it.
The researchers noted some limitations in the study. For example, they didn’t have access to exact weight or body mass index (BMI) information, individual income details, or out-of-pocket costs.
They also couldn’t track mild side effects, which may be underreported in health databases. Additionally, they didn’t measure how much weight people actually lost after starting the medication.
Still, the study highlights a big issue: while semaglutide works for many people, real-world challenges like cost, side effects, and personal health factors often get in the way. More research is needed to help people stay on treatment and get the best results.
If you care about obesity, please read studies about Scientists find new key cause of obesity and findings of Double whammy: diabetes drug also knocks out obesity.
For more about weight loss, please read studies about Scientists find secrets to long-term weight loss success and findings of Weight loss surgery linked to this mental disease.
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