Can Mounjaro be used for long-term weight management?

Evidence suggests Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can be effective for long-term weight management when treatment is continued, with trials showing that staying on tirzepatide helps maintain and further enhance weight loss over 1–2 years compared with stopping the medicine. In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, people who continued tirzepatide after initial weight loss maintained substantially more of their weight reduction than those switched to placebo, who regained a significant portion of lost weight within a year. This indicates that, like other chronic conditions, obesity often requires ongoing therapy to sustain benefits, and stopping treatment is commonly followed by weight regain. In the UK, NICE recommends tirzepatide as part of a structured weight-management plan for eligible adults, with reviews to assess benefit over time and guidance noting weight regain is likely after stopping.

• Continuing tirzepatide supports maintenance of weight loss and can yield additional reduction over 1–2 years.
• Stopping tirzepatide commonly leads to notable weight regain within a year.
• UK guidance recommends use within a supervised programme with periodic review of response.
• NICE materials caution that weight regain is likely after stopping medicines in this class.
• Long-term management typically pairs ongoing medication with diet and physical-activity support.

Sources

• JAMA – Continued Tirzepatide vs Placebo After Lead-In (SURMOUNT-4)
• PMC – SURMOUNT-4 trial details and outcomes
• NICE TA1026 – Recommendations (tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity)
• NICE – Discussion aid for HCPs and patients
• NHS England – Interim commissioning guidance for TA1026 implementation