If you are on weight loss injections, what do you make of this article?

Nothing works. That's what any study will tell you, including the one that's the subject of this post. Everyone regains the weight, whatever method they use.

Which is why long term use of the medication is the best (or only) option for some people.

The headline that WLI users regain at a rate 4 times faster than conventional weight loss is from the research study in the OPs article. It is based on the existing research trials compared to diet without WLI. However, even the study itself doesn’t state that this is definitively the case and recognises that more research specifically into regain is needed. The existing studies did not look at regain specifically and people on the studies simply stopped taking medication when at goal. We have no idea if tapering off, or a long period of low dose before stopping might make a difference. Or other measures. I think it’s far too soon to say that regain at 4 times the speed of ordinary weight loss is expected and typical.

If you knew that already, why ask me where that “nugget” was from?

My husband is diabetic and has been on mounjaro or similar for some years. He has lost a significant amount of weight as a result. His prescribing doctor told him very clearly at the outset that it would likely be a lifetime medication and that it was likely that he would quickly regain should he come off.

This has been well known for some time. The results have been significant, I would say life changing. Which is clearly wonderful for him. I have no issue with WLIs for people who use them purely for weight loss and finance them themselves but they need to go into it with their eyes open and understand the lifelong implications.

I have lost almost 4.5st in the last 12 months. I am only 4lbs away from target and have been planning for the long term. I plan on tapering down to a much lower level to maintain. I would like to come off eventually but see myself using them for at least the next 12 months. If I have to, I will take for life.

ETA: I would also like to think that I have changed my relationship with food and that I have implemented an exercise routine but I am not naive enough to think that this might not be sustainable without the help of the WLI.

I don’t think they understand - MargoLivebetter - this is the problem. We can tell them why they’re wrong or misinformed til we’re blue in the face but they haven’t the ability to understand.

It’s a lot to do with comprehension and critical thinking and a hell of a lot of people don’t have these skills. So you feel like you’re banging your head against a brick
wall.

Who knew that "nugget" was rude! Mumsnet is a continual source of education for me.

Back to the study, researchers behind the paper published in the BMJ late on Wednesday analysed data from more than 9,000 people from 37 studies that examined the effects of ceasing the drugs. On average, the participants took the medicines for 39 weeks and provided follow-up data for 32. The scientists extrapolated from the studies to forecast what would have happened after a further lapse of time. So it is an extrapolation, not statements of absolute facts!

This is the thing. WLI threads for whatever reason attract a lot of people who want to post poor or sometimes just invented advice, and are very fixed in their thinking about it. In many cases they mean well.

But actually, it's important to bear in mind that millions of people read MN. Lots of them will be obese. They may be influenced by posts from a person who holds a quasi religious belief that long term WLI use is impossible, or won't work without psychological support. Maybe they'll be put off WLI use because they can't access mental health support, or feel alienated by it.

We might not be able to persuade the believer to stop making things up, but we can spell out for anyone reading when something is evidence free guesswork. That's important, because curbing obesity saves lives.

I also have a damaged sigmoid colon from the jabs

God, that's awful. I'm so sorry that's happened to you.

I read something before about your body always trying to get back to it's heaviest weight once you've been obese (as opposed to a stone or two overweight). Apparently you need to maintain a lower level of weight for two years before your body accepts it. So not losing weight, actually maintaining a new baseline. I intend to keep using MJ to maintain a baseline and wean myself off but I am also exercising more, and focusing on my diet to aid this.

I agree it is rude

Indeed. And not claim that doctors and journalists have misunderstood studies because they don’t like the conclusions …..

Yes, the study was published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday.

It suggests didn’t believe me. No extrapolation. Listen to the report.

Having just listened again to the report, Today’s source was the British Medical Journal.

Hope that helps …..

What is rude about the word "nugget"?

The study is based on extrapolations made from other studies, so if the Today Programme said that, they were misquoting or misunderstanding the premise of the study.

I agree.

And it’s common sense that people will easily put weight on from using these but some posters cannot cope with hearing it.

I love hearing success stories of posters who managed to maintain their weight afterwards but hearing from those that didn’t are just as important for those who are on them or thinking about them.

If people want to succeed with keeping weight off, they need to be open to hearing what doesn’t work.

@Eyeshadow eating too many carrots has undesirable side effects, drinking too much alcohol has undesirable side effects, taking paracetamol can have undesirable side effects, having an epidural can have undesirable side effects.

EVERYTHING that exists in life can have an undesirable side effects. No one is saying that WLI do not have undesirable side effects - NO ONE! If you want to know what they are, you can google them. Like all medications the side effects are well documented and listed out for you.

I wasn’t directly talking to you! You’re a little bit strange!

Radio Four Today Programme, this morning. It was one of the opening headlines then a report during the programme.

Your use of “nugget” is rude.

Because for me being overweight is definitely psychological.

So I'm currently treating the symptoms of overeating (being fat) but I'm not dealing with the cause.

I may well need to remain on a maintenance dose as well. I'm open to that but I hold my hands up and say without MJ I know I'll struggle with gaining (at least) some weight back.

Are you being intentionally obtuse?

You know there are more negatives than just the cost.
That is just 1 of them.

When someone is considering whether they should start taking up WLI’s what other negatives would you have them consider?

You get triggered when anyone mentions anything negative about WLI’s and take it as a personal attack (even when someone like myself is pro-WLI’s).
I would never trust any review that is solely positive because nothing is ever perfect.

You seem to not be able to admit that these WLI’s come either downsides and that is not helpful and definitely not a balanced view.

@MrsSkylerWhite where did you find that nugget? Can you quote your source please.

Well done 😊

Can I ask why you wouldn’t just take maintenance dose if it’s working for you? I’d think that’s a better use of your money - that’s only my opinion of course.