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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel uneasy about what this means long term rather than surprised by the weight regain itself?

682 replies

HazelMember · 28/01/2026 18:03

I’ve just read a BBC article about research into weight loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy showing that people who stop taking them tend to regain weight quite quickly.

I’m not shocked that weight comes back. That happens after most weight loss attempts whether they involve medication or not.

These drugs are increasingly talked about as something people might take for years or even indefinitely. That raises questions for me about what happens when someone cannot afford them anymore, when supply changes, when side effects become an issue or when a person simply does not want to stay on a medication for life.

If stopping leads not just to regain but to a fairly rapid rebound, it feels less like a temporary aid and more like something that is very hard to step away from once started. That sits oddly with how casually they are sometimes discussed.

AIBU to think the real issue here is not that people regain weight after stopping, but whether we are quietly normalising a treatment that may be difficult to discontinue once begun? Or is this simply the reality of managing a chronic condition?

A woman, wearing bright red nail polish and unbuttoned blue jeans, injects herself into the skin and soft tissue of her lower abdomen with an obesity jab pen.

People coming off weight-loss injections risk fast weight gain

Overweight people shed large amounts on jabs but gain 0.8 kg a month on average once off them, study shows.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c050ljnrv2qo

OP posts:
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soupyspoon · 29/01/2026 00:28

Same with people who have painkiller addictions. Legitimate drugs are misused all the time

I dont see 'concern' raised on thread after thread after thread about codeine, anti histamines, laxatives etc.

Perimenoanti · 29/01/2026 00:00

ForeverScout · 28/01/2026 23:50

I was doing no such thing, and you know it. I shared my own qualms of long term meds based on my own experience in a particular situation and a particular medication which is well known for being over prescribed. I'm careful of any long term meds as a result, especially if or where there is huge public demand and money to be made in getting people hooked.

Where it is actually needed - have at it. In my view anyone who is not obese but wants to either get to or maintain an ultrathin look should be careful. And maybe I'm biased - like I said, worried about my sister who is on them and has lost too much weight (with a historic eating disorder in play) and now my borderline anorexic mother is talking about going on them to get rid of her remaining belly fat. She wants to get down to under 500cals a day. So I see the other side of it.

By all means continue making accusations though. I'm out.

But what does this have to do with the medication? They aren't supposed to be prescribed for what you described about your family. I'd think more stringent checks by prescribers would be necessary and also consequences if they don't do those.

FYI I'm having to submit a video of me on the scales whilst looking in the mirror to mine.

It does actually sound as though your mother and sister would need different kind of help, which is probably also not available.

MO0N · 28/01/2026 23:59

"worried about my sister who is on them and has lost too much weight (with a historic eating disorder in play) and now my borderline anorexic mother is talking about going on them to get rid of her remaining belly fat. She wants to get down to under 500cals a day. So I see the other side of it."

@ForeverScout I think you are very right to point this out, we should not forget that the WLIs are powerful and could be dangerous for some people.
Our focus tends to be on overweight, we forget that others are prone to becoming obsessive about restricting food intake. It can be dangerous to remove appetite.
I hope your mum & your sister will think carefully about things.

MO0N · 28/01/2026 23:51

I think it's great that we now have these weight loss meds.
It would be great if we could tackle the underlying causes of weight gain, but that's a very complex issue (imo).
I think part of the problem is that it has become normal to be heavier. I hope that as more people have success with weight loss meds there will be a shift in the 'overtone size window'. That would be a step in the right direction imo.

ForeverScout · 28/01/2026 23:50

soupyspoon · 28/01/2026 20:32

Because it shows you dont know very much about life long conditions and the likely need for life long treatment. And you're trying to apply that to obesity

I was doing no such thing, and you know it. I shared my own qualms of long term meds based on my own experience in a particular situation and a particular medication which is well known for being over prescribed. I'm careful of any long term meds as a result, especially if or where there is huge public demand and money to be made in getting people hooked.

Where it is actually needed - have at it. In my view anyone who is not obese but wants to either get to or maintain an ultrathin look should be careful. And maybe I'm biased - like I said, worried about my sister who is on them and has lost too much weight (with a historic eating disorder in play) and now my borderline anorexic mother is talking about going on them to get rid of her remaining belly fat. She wants to get down to under 500cals a day. So I see the other side of it.

By all means continue making accusations though. I'm out.

LivelyViper · 28/01/2026 23:14

.

Stompythedinosaur · 28/01/2026 23:14

The only reason people seem to be so upset about a medication helping people lose weight is because they secretly thing obesity is a moral issue and people should be punished.

Chumpfriend · 28/01/2026 22:58

I was on WLI and lost 2 stone. I’m only down to 13.5 but I was much bigger. Been off them almost a year and not really had a huge struggle - eating more but maintaining. Haven’t had to totally rethink my life choices as others have suggested.

Going to go back on to lose another 1 stone maybe and then will come off again. I have friends on them who have gone all in and lost loads. I’m happy at this weight - size 16 - but will also be happy at a size 14. It’s like anything - do what works for you and don’t listen to the hysteria around it.

Ozempic made me depressed so switched to Mounjaro and was pretty straightforward. To this day, no one in my life knows I was on them. I love listening to the convos whilst remaining non-comittal. 😂

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 22:48

Crwysmam · 28/01/2026 22:36

I still have another two stone to lose so please don’t mock. Unless you have faced a genuine death sentence you have no idea how different it is to obesity. I was happy to waddle around 4 stone overweight, I didn’t feel the need to reduce my risk because obesity didn’t feel like a life sentence. Once diagnosed with cancer and, although reassured that they could probably treat it, they also said that there was no guarantee.

What really changed my mindset was watching my DSis die within a few weeks of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It’s incredibly motivating. And everytime I stand in front of the fridge or am tempted to over indulge I just think back to the weeks we spent with my DSis. That experience will never leave me. She was younger than me so it felt so wrong. It was different watching my DM die b cause I was so much younger and had the confidence of youth. I felt I had time to fix things and at that stage I had a had a healthy BMI. But as the weight crept on the risk became more real. My DSis was always the healthy living, active non drinker in the family. The one with the least risk. So it somehow feels wrong that she didn’t survive and scares the shit out of me, so I’m no longer as relaxed about my weight.

Edited

Ah so you actually have lost some weight but not all of it and its not actually clear whether or not you will be able to keep it off. I wish you that you will manage just like any other obese person.

Again, you assume that your experience of obesity would be anyone's. Im not even going to comment on the death sentence part. From my perspective you were lucky to have had a good chunk of your life without facing the possibility of dying.

Crwysmam · 28/01/2026 22:36

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 22:11

Im really sorry you went through this. My point though was that cancer and obesity are top causes of death. One is accepted to be nobody's fault and the other is just a lack of willpower and laziness. Im actually offended that you bring it down to willpower too.

If i had only two stone to lose it would be a walk in the park. I have done this myself over the course of my life. 2 stone eh.

I still have another two stone to lose so please don’t mock. Unless you have faced a genuine death sentence you have no idea how different it is to obesity. I was happy to waddle around 4 stone overweight, I didn’t feel the need to reduce my risk because obesity didn’t feel like a life sentence. Once diagnosed with cancer and, although reassured that they could probably treat it, they also said that there was no guarantee.

What really changed my mindset was watching my DSis die within a few weeks of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It’s incredibly motivating. And everytime I stand in front of the fridge or am tempted to over indulge I just think back to the weeks we spent with my DSis. That experience will never leave me. She was younger than me so it felt so wrong. It was different watching my DM die b cause I was so much younger and had the confidence of youth. I felt I had time to fix things and at that stage I had a had a healthy BMI. But as the weight crept on the risk became more real. My DSis was always the healthy living, active non drinker in the family. The one with the least risk. So it somehow feels wrong that she didn’t survive and scares the shit out of me, so I’m no longer as relaxed about my weight.

Moonandstarsandsun · 28/01/2026 22:26

I lost 2 stone over 3 months with them back in July. Not put any weight back on. Most I do put on is 2llb but usually gone the next day, depends on if I’ve eaten bread.

PotteryChuck · 28/01/2026 22:16

I lost 6 stone 15 years ago by changing my diet and lifestyle, I never regained it. I eat a varied wholefood diet with limited junk and enjoy exercising every day.

If WLI's were available back then I'd have definitely used them to help me lose the weight.

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 22:11

Crwysmam · 28/01/2026 22:05

Sorry it’s not. As a cancer survivor that offends me. If losing weight could have cured my cancer, treatment would have been infinitely easier.

With the threat of recurrence I have had no problem motivating myself to follow a calorie deficit diet to lose 2stone in order to reduce my risk. Changing my eating habits was a damn site easier than the treatment I had to undergo to remove the cancer from my body.

Im really sorry you went through this. My point though was that cancer and obesity are top causes of death. One is accepted to be nobody's fault and the other is just a lack of willpower and laziness. Im actually offended that you bring it down to willpower too.

If i had only two stone to lose it would be a walk in the park. I have done this myself over the course of my life. 2 stone eh.

Duckishness · 28/01/2026 22:10

Bloozie · 28/01/2026 22:03

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33899337/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147021182404572X

Reducing such a complex issue down to 'eat less, move more' and 'learn to cook', and the other bullshit on this thread, is pure ignorance.

People on WLI know they are likely to regain weight after. They know this because it's a pattern we've experienced our whole fucking lives. I have lost weight the willpower way, I've lost weight the cabbage diet way, I've lost weight the personal trainer twice a week, swim a mile 3 times a week, run 5k twice a week and keto diet way. I've done intermittent fasting. The weight comes back. I eat exactly the same as my husband and move more. He is not obese. I am.

All the moralising on this thread, like fat people just have no idea how to lose weight is a pure waste of your time.

We know. We know better than you. No one knows more about the calore content of an apple vs a biscuit, a spoon of hummus vs mayo, what adding baked beans on your cheese does to the glycaemic index of your lunchtime jacket potato, than a fat person.

Believe me, we know.

We also, therefore, know that it will be difficult coming off mounjaro or whichever GLP-1 receptor we're on.

But thanks for the concern, guys. It feels SUPER sincere. No, really.

Edited

This and I don’t even take WLI.

There are genetics traits. It is also a globally observed trend. Add in lifestyle of work these days and the food manufacturing industry and of course people struggle!

There are genetic traits for neurodiversity. I don’t see anyone suggesting people stop that medication or saying if you could just try a bit harder to not stim or have a meltdown, I think if you just practice deep breaths it would be fine.

Crwysmam · 28/01/2026 22:05

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 21:13

I also think the quite valid comparison shocked you and you probably didn't see another way but to insult obese people for not trying hard enough according to your belief.

Sorry it’s not. As a cancer survivor that offends me. If losing weight could have cured my cancer, treatment would have been infinitely easier.

With the threat of recurrence I have had no problem motivating myself to follow a calorie deficit diet to lose 2stone in order to reduce my risk. Changing my eating habits was a damn site easier than the treatment I had to undergo to remove the cancer from my body.

Bloozie · 28/01/2026 22:03

Whataninterestinglookingpotato · 28/01/2026 21:33

A quick Google search will tell you that less than 5% of all obese people are obese primarily because of medical conditions.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33899337/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147021182404572X

Reducing such a complex issue down to 'eat less, move more' and 'learn to cook', and the other bullshit on this thread, is pure ignorance.

People on WLI know they are likely to regain weight after. They know this because it's a pattern we've experienced our whole fucking lives. I have lost weight the willpower way, I've lost weight the cabbage diet way, I've lost weight the personal trainer twice a week, swim a mile 3 times a week, run 5k twice a week and keto diet way. I've done intermittent fasting. The weight comes back. I eat exactly the same as my husband and move more. He is not obese. I am.

All the moralising on this thread, like fat people just have no idea how to lose weight is a pure waste of your time.

We know. We know better than you. No one knows more about the calore content of an apple vs a biscuit, a spoon of hummus vs mayo, what adding baked beans on your cheese does to the glycaemic index of your lunchtime jacket potato, than a fat person.

Believe me, we know.

We also, therefore, know that it will be difficult coming off mounjaro or whichever GLP-1 receptor we're on.

But thanks for the concern, guys. It feels SUPER sincere. No, really.

Genetics of Obesity: What We Have Learned Over Decades of Research - PubMed

There is a genetic component to human obesity that accounts for 40% to 50% of the variability in body weight status but that is lower among normal weight individuals (about 30%) and substantially higher in the subpopulation of individuals with obesity...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33899337/

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 22:03

Sorry, I shouldn't joke/take the piss, I know how tedious it is, when people make out it's sooooooo easy to just lose weight. If only eh?!

AltitudeCheck · 28/01/2026 22:03

I also think WLI have changed the way people in the UK feel about obtaining medication privately. I know pre WLI a handful of people will have bought (legitimate) prescription only medication from private providers and online. WLI has really brought this this into the mainstream. Can't help feel it's having the unintended social side effect of preparing us to accept paying directly for healthcare and accepting the slow fade of the NHS.

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 22:02

soupyspoon · 28/01/2026 21:59

Hold on, are you sure? I thought it was the other way round. How come no one told me.

😆 LOLOLOLOL!!!

Don't the silly billy weight loss injection people know this?

It's sooooooooooooooooooo easy!

Just eat less. Move more.

Arf arf. 😆

Citrusbergamia · 28/01/2026 22:01

blubberball · 28/01/2026 18:08

I'd love to be on wli. The cost and side effects put me off

Same for me.

My SIL has used WLI for the last 9 months, she's lost 3.5 stone. But she is having to stop because of severe hair loss but also because she can't afford it anymore. I feel so sorry for her because she finally found something that works for her BUT she openly admits that she's not been eating particularly healthily (just less of her usual foods) and has not incorporated any form of exercise in the last 9 months. 😬

She knows the weight will pile back on and she's so unhappy 🙁

soupyspoon · 28/01/2026 21:59

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 21:52

Eat less, move more, duh! 🙄

Hold on, are you sure? I thought it was the other way round. How come no one told me.

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 21:54

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 21:53

Claims to want to have a discussion. Posting articles from the BBC but doesn't actually want to hear from WLI users.

Yeah exactly. The faux concern is nauseating and tedious.

Duckishness · 28/01/2026 21:54

HazelMember · 28/01/2026 20:24

Of course. but as the article said:

People who come off slimming jabs regain weight four times faster than dieters

How is this surprising. Seems like psychology and physiology 101.

Non-WLI route requires self drive to fundamentally change behaviour over a sustained period of time.

WLI induces a physiological response rather than a behavioural one. I am not saying there’s no behaviour shift at all, I’m sure there is, but the barrier to inject is far, far lower. My sister takes them as she just can’t manage on her own the ‘traditional’ method due to genetics and environmental reasons.

Take the injections away and unless the fundamental behaviours have changed, and the fact muscle burns calories and might have been reduced with WLI, it’s so not surprising to me.

Guess what happens to people who stop blood pressure drugs who have an underlying diet and exercise cause….

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 21:53

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 21:51

I'm not being funny @HazelMember but I really can't see the point of this thread. Why have you posted it? Just so you can gloat about how people who spends 1000s of pounds on weight loss injections and lose say, 7 stone, will regain it all all as soon as they come off the jabs? Ha ha ha. Hmm

Seriously, what is the object of this thread?

Claims to want to have a discussion. Posting articles from the BBC but doesn't actually want to hear from WLI users.

BatchCookBabe · 28/01/2026 21:52

Perimenoanti · 28/01/2026 21:46

But WILLPOWER

Eat less, move more, duh! 🙄