u/mindfulEMT

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-tirzepatide-full-dose-weight-loss.html

“Between week 48 and week 60, bodyweight plateau occurred in 84%, 83%, and 85% of participants randomized to continue tirzepatide MTD, reduce to tirzepatide 5 mg, or switch to placebo, respectively. Studying those who reached a weight plateau allowed the researchers to assess the weight maintenance phase in a weight-stable population.
Among participants who reached a bodyweight plateau, those continuing tirzepatide MTD maintained 96.5% of bodyweight reduction obtained during the weight-loss period and those who reduced to the 5 mg tirzepatide dose maintained 67.9%, versus 42.8% with placebo.”

So this says that pretty much everyone in the study eventually hit a plateau. Granted there was only ~450 people….

What do you think? Does this change your mindset?

441 people studied over 112 weeks…
0-60 weeks at max tolerated dose (10 or 15mg)
60-112 weeks, either stayed on max dose, went down to 5mg, or stopped zepbound
84 weeks - individuals who regained 50%+ of weight was allowed to increase dose

“Among participants who regained at least 50% of lost bodyweight, observed means were 11 (8%) of 138, 35 (25%) of 142, and 60 (67%) of 90 participants received rescue therapy in the tirzepatide MTD, 5 mg tirzepatide, and placebo, respectively”

So…
-if you stayed on your highest tolerated dose after week 60… 8% regained 50%+ of body weight and had to increase dose
-If you stopped to 5mg, 25% regained 50%+ of body weight and increased dose
-If you stopped zepbound, 67% gained 50+% of body weight and had to increase dose

overall… over 112 weeks (bit over 2yrs)

-Those on max tolerated dose lost 21.9% body weight over the 112 total weeks
-Those who reduced to 5mg after 60 weeks lost 16.6% body weight over 112 total weeks
-Those who stopped zep lost a total of 9.9% body weight over 112 total weeks

Important note I see is that this shows that even staying on max dose… it generally seems that everyone does eventually hit a barrier in terms of being able to continue weight loss

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00656-2/abstract

Latest research - are plateaus inevitable?

Surmount-Maintain results and thoughts