A recent study reveals that people who discontinue popular slimming jabs like Mounjaro or Wegovy can put back on lost weight at a significantly accelerated pace than those who stop traditional lifestyle plans.
Research printed in a major medical journal shows that while overweight individuals frequently drop about a fifth of their total mass while undergoing treatment, the weight returns at an average rate of nearly a kilo each month after stopping.
"People using these drugs need to be informed of the danger of fast weight regain when the treatment is stopped," warns expert Dr. Susan Jebb.
This pace of regain implies a return to pre-treatment weight within about one and a half years.
Weighing Therapies
The analysis, which looked at 37 of trials involving thousands of patients, contrasted the results of the injectable medications with conventional dieting.
The team emphasize that individuals who shed pounds through diet and exercise usually experience a more gradual creep back—around 100 grams monthly—once they finish.
Explaining the Rapid Rebound
Doctors propose the mode of action of the jabs is key to understanding the amplified regain.
The injections mimic a body's own chemical called glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate hunger.
"Artificially providing the hormone levels several times higher than the body's typical production could lead to the system to generate a reduced amount of its own natural hormone, and may also reduce sensitivity to its actions," noted Dr. Adam Collins, a nutrition researcher.
"Stopping of this hormone supplement results in hunger is no longer kept in check, making overeating far more likely."
An Ongoing Condition?
Medical guidelines advise the injections for people with weight-linked medical conditions, accompanied by prescribed diet and exercise modifications.
Many experts contend that, due to the likelihood of weight regain, the treatment might need to be ongoing.
This perspective is supported by drug manufacturers, who note that the results "underscore the persistent character of obesity," akin to managing diseases like high blood pressure.
User Experiences
Users who have stopped the jabs describe a intense return of appetite.
"It was like a trigger that goes on and you become extremely hungry," said a patient.
This challenge is compounded if users have not adopted lasting lifestyle or habit modifications during therapy.
Widespread Adoption
Recent estimates suggest that millions of people in the UK have used weight-loss jabs in the past year, with demand remaining high.
- Use is greater among women than males.
- The middle-aged demographic shows the highest usage rates.
- A large proportion access the medications through private prescriptions rather than the NHS.
Ultimately, researchers emphasize that while the jabs are powerful agents for weight loss, they are not a permanent fix and lasting health benefits likely depends on integrated behavioural management.
