GP warns of common pitfalls when stopping weight jabs
Jabs like Ozempic aren’t a quick fix (Picture: Getty Images)
While treatments like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy can provide a helping hand, there’s no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight.
Given GLP-1 agonist medications have been shown to help people lose up to four times more than going it alone, it’s no wonder they’re popular.
However, a proportion of the estimated 1.5 million people in the UK who are now on these jabs will struggle to keep the pounds off long-term — and some may even end up heavier than when they started.
‘While it can differ depending on the individual, it’s quite common for people to regain some of the weight lost once they stop taking the medication,’ Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, tells Metro.
There are a few factors behind this, from metabolism to appetite. But going back on your progress isn’t inevitable, as long as you’re careful to avoid these five common pitfalls.
Abruptly stopping treatment
As these treatments work by suppressing appetite, Dr Grant warns that going cold turkey ‘could increase it, leading to poor eating habits and potential weight gain.’
Speak to your doctor for a tapering plan (Picture: Getty Images)
If you’re considering coming off your medication, he recommends speaking to your GP about doing so slowly and safely.
‘A medical professional can advise further on a potential tapering plan, while also providing dietary advice and lifestyle habits that can help reduce weight gain,’ he adds.
Not making lifestyle changes
According to a recent study of over 6,000 people by scientists at Oxford University, those who use GLP-1 drugs will put their weight back on within 10 months of stopping if they don’t continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Grant explains: ‘When stopping weight loss injections, it’s crucially important that individuals replace the treatment with another way to keep weight off.’
Even 30 minutes of daily exercise can make all the difference, burning off some of those extra calories you’re consuming and stopping you falling into a sedentary routine.
Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help maintain your progress (Picture: Getty Images)
Stopping too early
Quick fixes and ‘crash diets’ rarely result in any lasting improvements — and the same is true for GLP-1 medications.
‘Choosing to stop weight loss treatment too early is by far one of the most common errors people make,’ says Dr Grant. ‘These drugs are designed to be used long-term, but not doing so gives the body little time to adapt to the treatment.’
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, with many providers recommending a course of between 12 and 24 months. Unless you’re prepared to make that commitment, you may not reap the full benefits of treatment.
Not changing your diet
Making changes to your diet while taking Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy is a vital step to maintaining your progress forward. In fact, Dr Grant claims failure to do so is a ‘sure-fire way to regain weight lost’.
‘It’s important for people to draw up a dietary plan, including structured meal times to avoid overeating,’ he explains.
‘I also recommend a well-balanced diet including a variety of high-protein, fibre-rich and healthy fat foods.’
It’s a good idea to monitor your weight even after the treatment ends (Picture: Getty Images)
Not monitoring weight regularly
‘While it’s important not to create an unhealthy relationship with weight management, tracking weight closely once ending any treatments can help people adjust their routine to avoid losing progress,’ says Dr Grant.
It’s easy to revert to old habits once you end a course of medication, but regular monitoring ensures you can get back on track before you lose too much progress.
Since you’ve put so much time, energy and potentially money into the progress you’ve made so far, just think of this as protecting your investment.
Not addressing your emotional relationship with food
As medical director at Weight Medics, Dr Debra Marcos, adds, it’s also important to consider – and heal – your emotional relationship with eating.
In her view, weight gain is ‘rarely just about food,’ as it often involves ’emotional eating, hormonal imbalance, stress, poor sleep, and even unresolved trauma.’
‘The jab may reduce weight temporarily, but unless these underlying causes are addressed, weight regain is likely. GLP1s don’t fix emotional eating, stress eating, or deep-seated habits,’ she tells Metro.
‘Once the medication is stopped, the feeling of “losing control” may lead patients to emotional eating, perpetuating the roots of their weight problems.’
Wondering where to start? Dr Debra suggests working with dietitians and even therapists to help you identify your ’emotional triggers’ and implement alternative coping strategies.
Not eating enough protein
As Dr Debra adds, weight loss injections can suppress your appetite – but you need to make sure you’re eating enough protein, even when you stop using them.
Not packing in enough can cause muscle loss and a lower metabolism, and as the British Heart Foundation suggests, most adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight each day.
On average, this works out at 45g for women and 55g for men.
If possible, you’ll also want to include regular strength training to help preserve that much-needed muscle.
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