01/11/2026
GLP-1 meds (like semaglutide and tirzepatide) have been a game-changer for a lot of people, but they’re not magic for everyone.
A small group of patients just don’t see the kind of weight loss we’d expect early on. In one report, “nonresponse” was basically defined as not losing at least 5% of body weight after about 3 months on a GLP-1. And depending on the medication, that can be somewhere around 10–17% of patients.
If that’s you, here’s the important part: it’s not a character flaw, and it’s not “you did something wrong.”
There are a bunch of reasons this can happen, including:
biology/genetics (some bodies just respond differently),
other medical issues (thyroid problems, PCOS, Cushing syndrome, diabetes, etc.), medications that can cause weight gain (steroids, some antidepressants, some antipsychotics), not being able to get to an effective dose (side effects, slow titration, staying too low too long) stress and sleep (yes, they matter more than people realize), age-related changes, also, some people are “late responders,” meaning it takes longer than 12 weeks to see the first real drop.
Bottom line: if you’re not seeing results, don’t assume you failed. It usually just means we need to zoom out, look at the full picture, and adjust the plan (dose, labs, meds, lifestyle barriers, or even a different treatment option).
When GLP-1s Fall Short: Some Patients Don’t Find Success. Medscape Medical News, January 6, 2026. WebMD, LLC.
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