WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP TAKING WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS?
Weight loss injections, like Semaglutide (brand names Ozempic, Wegovy) and Liraglutide (brand name Saxenda), have gained significant popularity for their effectiveness in aiding weight management. But what happens when you stop taking them? It is crucial to understand the potential effects before embarking on a course of these medications.
How Do These Injections Work?
These medications mimic a natural hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 plays a vital role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. It is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body that plays a significant role in regulating blood sugar and appetite. Its key functions are as follows:
- Blood Sugar Regulation:
- GLP-1 stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas when blood sugar levels rise, helping to lower them.
- It also inhibits the release of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar.
- Appetite Control:
- GLP-1 signals to the brain that you are full, which helps reduce appetite and food intake.
- It also slows down gastric emptying, meaning food stays in your stomach longer, contributing to feelings of fullness.
In essence, GLP-1 helps your body manage blood sugar levels and control your appetite. This is why medications that mimic GLP-1 (GLP-1 receptor agonists) and perform the same functions in the body have become popular for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.
What to Expect When You Stop Taking Weight Loss Injections
Discontinuing weight loss injections does not lead to immediate, dangerous withdrawal symptoms, like those associated with addictive substances. However, several changes can occur once the medication is stopped:
- Weight Regain:
- This is the most common and often most significant effect. The medications help regulate appetite, and without them, your natural hunger cues return.
- Many individuals experience a gradual return to their baseline weight, and sometimes even surpass it, if they don’t maintain healthy lifestyle changes.
- The degree of weight regain varies depending on individual factors, including diet, exercise, and metabolism.
- Increased Appetite:
- The appetite-suppressing effects of the medication wear off, leading to increased hunger and cravings.
- This can make it challenging to maintain a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight management.
- Changes in Blood Sugar Levels:
- For individuals with type 2 diabetes, stopping these injections can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels.
- Careful monitoring and adjustments to other diabetes medications may be necessary.
- Return of Previous Eating Habits:
- If you haven’t made sustainable lifestyle changes while on the medication, you are more likely to revert to your old eating habits.
- This can contribute to weight regain and the occurrence of other health issues associated with increased weight.
- Potential Psychological Effects:
- Some individuals may experience feelings of disappointment or frustration if they regain weight.
- It is important to remember that weight management is a long-term journey, and setbacks are possible.
How to Minimize Weight Regain:
To mitigate the effects of stopping weight loss injections, consider these strategies:
- Focus on Sustainable Lifestyle Changes:
- Prioritize a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
- Engage in regular physical activity.
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress and emotional eating.
- Gradual Weaning:
- Gradually reducing the dosage of the weight loss injections is preferred, instead of stopping abruptly. This can help your body adjust to the change.
- Continued Medical Supervision:
- Work closely with your healthcare provider to monitor your weight, blood sugar, and overall health. They can provide guidance and support to help you maintain your weight loss.
- Behavioural Therapy:
- Behavioural therapy can help you to address emotional eating and develop healthy eating habits.
NICE Guidelines
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines on the use of weight loss injections in England.
Specifically relating to Semaglutide (Wegovy) NICE recommends that Wegovy should be prescribed alongside diet and physical activity support for adults with a weight-related health condition and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 35, or, exceptionally, a BMI of 30. NICE also provides guidance that lower BMI thresholds should be used for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family backgrounds. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is recommended by NICE for people with a body mass index of more than 35 and at least one weight-related illness.
NICE guidelines generally recommend that these medications be prescribed within specialist weight management services. This ensures that individuals receive comprehensive support, including dietary advice, physical activity guidance, and behavioural therapy. Importantly, NICE guidance states that Semaglutide should be used for a maximum of two years.
A crucial aspect of NICE guidelines is the emphasis on combining medication with lifestyle changes. Weight loss injections are intended to support, not replace, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Key Takeaway:
Weight loss injections can be a valuable tool for weight management, but they’re not a magic bullet. Long-term success depends on adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes. The medication should be taken only as part of a comprehensive package of weight loss support, including counselling and advice on diet, physical activity and exercise, together with behavioural therapy.
GHS Clinical Service
The GHS Clinical Service has been designed and is being implemented to fully comply with NICE guidelines. Specifically, the GHS Clinical Service will provide not only the weight loss injections, but a complete package of evidence-based counselling, guidance and support on dietary requirements, exercise and behavioural therapy. The GHS Clinical Service is designed to have the patient in a position to stop the weight loss injections and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle within 2 years from starting the programme.
Key Findings and Supporting Information:
- Weight Regain:
- Studies have consistently shown that individuals often regain weight after discontinuing GLP-1 receptor agonists like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
- Specifically, research on Semaglutide (Wegovy) has indicated that participants can regain a significant portion of the weight they lost.
- Similarly, studies on Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and Liraglutide (Saxenda) have also demonstrated weight regain after cessation.
- Sources:
- “What happens when you stop weight-loss injections? – Second Nature”: This source refers to randomised controlled trials on Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, reinforcing the likelihood of weight regain.
- “What happens when you stop weight loss injections? – Oxford Online Pharmacy”: This source provides data from studies that show percentages of weight regain after ceasing medications like Semaglutide, and Mounjaro.
- “What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Here Are the Short- and Long-Term Side Effects – GoodRx”: This source also provides information regarding studies that have been done on the effects of stopping Ozempic, and the resulting weight regain.
- Increased Appetite:
- GLP-1 receptor agonists suppress appetite, so when they are stopped, appetite typically returns to baseline levels or higher.
- This increase in appetite is a major contributor to weight regain.
- Sources:
- “What happens when you stop weight loss injections? – Oxford Online Pharmacy”: This source directly states that the hunger reducing effects of the medications diminish, causing an increase in appetite.
- “What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Here Are the Short- and Long-Term Side Effects – GoodRx”: This source also states that an increased appitite and cravings are common side effects of stopping Ozempic.
- Importance of Lifestyle Changes:
- Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is crucial for preventing weight regain after stopping these medications.
- Some research suggests that a gradual tapering off of the medication, combined with lifestyle changes, may improve weight maintenance.
- Sources:
- “What happens when you stop weight-loss injections? – Second Nature”: This source emphasizes the importance of introducing healthy habits, and that tapering off of the medication, alongside those habits, can help maintain weight loss.
- “What Happens If I Stop Taking Weight Loss Medication? – hers”: This source gives advice on the importance of maintaining healthy habits, such as, balanced meals, and regular physical activity.
Links to relevant NICE guidance:
- Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity:
- This page provides the NICE guidance on the use of Semaglutide (Wegovy) for weight management:
- NICE describes how weight loss drug Tirzepatide will be rolled out:
- This page gives information on the roll out of Tirzepatide.