Other studies have shown that many people regain weight after stopping the drugs, including one published in December from Novo Nordisk competitor Eli Lilly: People using the GLP-1 drug Zepbound, which uses the active ingredient tirzepatide and targets a second hormone called GIP, lost an average of 21% of their body weight over 36 weeks
Because Medicare Part D is currently not permitted to cover GLP-1s for weight loss, it appears that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will create a pilot program to cover the drugs beginning as early as April 2026
& Mutiara, A
Zimmer ER, Parent MJ, Souza DG, Leuzy A, Lecrux C, Kim HI, et al
It is not cheap to buy Ozempic and other semaglutide medications
The Phase 2 trial protocol uses 4-week intervals between dose increases