A weight loss plateau is a stretch of time where the scale stops moving despite ongoing treatment, often occurring as the body adapts metabolically to a lower weight. Plateaus are a common, expected part of the weight-loss process on GLP-1 medications and don't necessarily mean the medication has stopped working — they're often addressed through dose adjustments, or reassessing diet and activity. A 2021 review explains how falling energy expenditure, including adaptive thermogenesis, brings on a weight plateau earlier than simple calorie math predicts (Egan and Collins, 2021 (external link)).
Weight loss plateau
A period during treatment when weight loss slows or stalls despite continued medication use.
Updated Sep 26, 2026
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