Dr. Christopher McGowan | Source | Gastroenterologist, Obesity Medicine Specialist, Founder of True You Weight L...

"I applaud Oprah's goal of 'advocating authentically' —raising awareness of obesity as a chronic condition and reducing stigma." - Dr. Christopher McGowan

Dr. Christopher McGowan says weight recurrence is "near-universal" after patients stop using weight loss drugs.

"This is identical to what we see after cessation of Wegovy, Ozempic, or any GLP-1 medication, for that matter," McGowan tells TODAY.com.

"These medications, while potent and highly effective for the treatment of weight, must be continued indefinitely, or weight recurrence is inevitable. They are a treatment, not a cure."

White adipose (fat) cells are what most people would view as "fat." White fat is located under the skin (subcutaneous) and around the organs (visceral). The primary function of white fat is energy storage. In times of excess calorie ingestion, fat cells store energy as triglycerides. In times of fasting, the triglycerides are broken down via lipolysis to provide energy for the body. White fat also contributes to metabolism and weight regulation, producing key hormones like leptin – a hormone critical in regulating satiety and weight.