Misuse of obesity drugs risks weight regain and higher long-term costs, warns Finnish expert

Over 100,000 Finns now use prescription obesity medications, but many are misusing them by stopping treatment or using the drugs intermittently—practices that can trigger weight regain and even higher long-term weight, professor Kirsi Pietiläinen told Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Pietiläinen, a clinical metabolism specialist, emphasized that obesity drugs are designed for long-term management of a chronic condition, not short-term weight-loss cycles. “This isn’t an intermittent treatment—it’s long-term therapy for a chronic disease,” she said, comparing it to medications for hypertension, cholesterol, or diabetes. Discontinuing the drug removes its appetite-suppressing effect, often leading to increased hunger and weight rebound.

A recent Lancet study on Lilly’s tirzepatide-based drug Mounjaro found that reducing doses or stopping treatment resulted in weight regain—a pattern Pietiläinen attributes to basic biology. “When the drug’s satiety effect is removed, people unconsciously eat more, and weight climbs,” she explained. Intermittent use may also diminish the drug’s efficacy over time.

Costs for long-term use can reach up to €15,000 over five years, with monthly prices nearing €300 for some medications. Only 10% of Finnish users receive national subsidy coverage, though Pietiläinen advocates expanding reimbursements for targeted groups, citing the drugs’ broader benefits in reducing risks of diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic disorders.

She criticized current prescribing practices as inadequate, noting that a prescription alone isn’t enough—proper initial assessment and ongoing monitoring are essential. Most users are women aged 45–65, a demographic where structured support could improve outcomes.