Omada Finds 6 In 10 Members Maintained Weight Loss After Discontinuing GLP-1s

Despite the buzz around GLP-1 weight loss drugs, doubts remain about their effectiveness once patients stop taking them.

Research has suggested that most people who discontinue GLP-1s regain a significant portion of the weight they lost—anywhere from 14% to nearly two-thirds. Omada Health, a virtual chronic care provider, is challenging that narrative with new data.

The company found that when GLP-1s are paired with comprehensive lifestyle support, 63% of members either maintained or continued to lose weight a year after stopping the drugs. On average, participants experienced just a 0.8% weight change at 12 months post-discontinuation, based on an analysis of 816 patients.

“Because [GLP-1s] don’t by themselves create sustainable behavioral patterns, our view is that the best way to maximize benefits and minimize downsides is to combine them with a high-quality, evidence-based lifestyle program,” Omada co-founder and CEO Sean Duffy told Fierce Healthcare.

Launched in 2023, Omada’s GLP-1 Care Track was created in response to client demand and now supports over 100,000 members. Many patients, Duffy noted, want to reach a goal weight and then stop the medication—something that requires training and preparation, similar to running a marathon. Omada’s program emphasizes muscle preservation, nutrition, and cognitive strategies to reinforce long-term habits.

The company also partners with major pharmacy benefit managers, including Express Scripts and CVS Caremark, to integrate its solution with GLP-1 prescriptions. Omada currently works with 2,000 employers and health plans.

Duffy believes the company’s latest findings will be a major selling point as the Care Track program continues to expand. Membership grew 71% in the first half of 2024, and he predicts that payers covering GLP-1s will increasingly see bundled lifestyle programs as the standard.

“I think that’s where the world is quickly heading,” Duffy said. “Without support, weight regain is inevitable.”

Duffy, who conceived of Omada during medical school, calls the company a “between-visit provider,” offering continuous support rather than relying on infrequent doctor appointments. Omada combines remote monitoring devices, coaching, and AI to help patients manage chronic conditions.

The GLP-1 Care Track has become a key growth driver as Omada pursues profitability. The company went public in June with a $1.1 billion valuation. In its first earnings call post-IPO, Omada reported $61 million in revenue, a 49% year-over-year increase, and a 52% rise in membership, bringing its total to 752,000.

According to President Wei-Li Shao, most of the company’s growth this quarter came from its core cardiometabolic programs. He added that both the surge in GLP-1 use and heightened attention from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign have boosted awareness of Omada’s offerings.