Finnish public broadcaster seeks reader experiences on stopping weight loss medications

Finnish public broadcaster Yle is gathering reader accounts from people who have stopped or attempted to stop using obesity medications, as part of an upcoming news feature.

Long-term or even lifelong medication use is often required for sustained weight loss, yet nearly half of users discontinue treatment within the first year, according to experts. In 2025, over 100,000 Finns used such drugs—a 43% increase from the previous year. Women account for 70% of users, with the highest usage among those aged 45–65.

Most patients pay for the medications themselves, as Finland’s Social Insurance Institution (Kela) covered costs for only 10,000 individuals last year. Monthly expenses can reach hundreds of euros. Professor Paulina Salminen of Turku University Hospital estimates that around 65% of users stop within a year, citing cost, side effects, and supply issues as key reasons.

Milla Rosengård-Bärlund, an endocrinology specialist at Helsinki and Uusimaa Abdominal Center, notes that roughly 90% of users regain weight after discontinuing the drugs.

Readers who have stopped or tried to stop obesity medications are invited to share their experiences via Yle’s online form for the upcoming report.