A daily pill could help people maintain weight loss and reduce reliance on other long-term medications, according to a new trial; the findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2026 in Istanbul and published in Nature Medicine.

Weight Retention After Discontinuing Injections

Previous studies have shown that patients prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide injections typically lose 15-20% of their body weight but regain two-thirds of the weight within a year of stopping treatment. In this trial. Participants who switched from weekly GLP-1 jabs to a daily pill containing orforglipron retained more of their weight loss than those given a placebo.

Researchers followed 376 US patients who had been on tirzepatide (Mounjaro) or semaglutide (Wegovy) injections for 72 weeks. After switching to orforglipron or a placebo for a year, those on tirzepatide kept almost 75% of their weight loss, compared to 49% for the placebo group. Those on semaglutide kept 73% of their weight off versus 38% for the placebo group, according to The Guardian.

Health Benefits and Side Effects

The trial, funded by Eli Lilly,which produces Mounjaro—also noted that blood pressure, lipids, and blood glucose levels were maintained in those taking orforglipron. This could help reduce long-term obesity-related health risks such as heart disease, according to Dr. Simon Cork from Anglia Ruskin University.

However, side effects were common. Nausea, constipation, and diarrhea were frequently reported, though mostly mild. Participants were not told whether they were taking orforglipron or a placebo, making the results more reliable.

Implications for Obesity Treatment

Obesity affects about 30% of adults in the UK, and many who use Wegovy or Mounjaro also take seven other medications for other health conditions. The new pill could help prevent obesity and its associated diseases, the researchers said. Dr. Cork described the study as “a really important study” that addresses a key limitation of injectable GLP-1 medications,significant weight rebound after stopping treatment.

The researchers added that orforglipron could be prescribed to prevent lower levels of overweight from tipping into obesity, potentially preventing over 200 diseases associated with the condition. The pill offers a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to weekly injections.