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

[IwishIwasacaterpillar]

If you have come off them, have you gained weight very quickly?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/07/weight-loss-jabs-regain-two-years-health-study

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I understand very well, thank you. Read my post above. My husband has been prescribed WL medication for some years and we are fully conversant with data.

@MrsSkylerWhite because I had not understood from the research published that those on WLI regained four times faster than those losing weight conventionally, hence me asking you where you had heard that information that you were quoting as though it were an absolute fact. I was curious!

This is lovely to hear. And when you do have a child please do all you can to remain a healthy weight for their sake too.

I’m an adult child of an obese mother and I can’t remember her ever being slim. By the time I was 15, her 45, I could see her struggles (to work, walk etc) which worried me sick. Her health deteriorated over the next 30 years since ALL because of the weight and made everything so so much harder for us all. She’s now housebound, incontinent, has a large heart, osteoarthritis - you name it, she’s got it and yes, it’s ALL because she had to lug so much body fat around everyday. I truly wish this drug had been available for her 40 years ago.

Keep the weight off - keep up the swimming - do whatever you can to remain a healthy weight.

This is exactly it.

I fear they are just here to argue and spout nonsense though.

It’s actually fascinating from a psychological perspective (I always say this). I can’t imagine anyone getting so het up about medication for depression or heart conditions.

I’ve been on MN 15 years and never seen the like. It’s an obsession.

It seems that when it’s to do with weight, everyone has an opinion (and will try to pass their opinion off as fact - which we cannot allow!)

This is a good point.

I think a much better (but much more invasive) alternative is a weight loss band, or whatever the new improved version of this is.

A friend had one put in a couple of years ago in Eastern Europe. A year later she went back to the same area for a face-lift as she’d lost so much weight.

She’s 54 and now looks incredible - almost like a celebrity. She’s not wealthy by any means though - it just costs a fraction of the price over there. No chance of the weight returning either.

That’s still really good. Sounds like you’re doing well on it.

I haven't read all 13 pages, just the first. But as someone who started WLI in May 2023, lost 7.5st to become a size 6/8 and hit target in March 2025... I'm still maintaining off medication.
I did indeed change my habits. I changed a lot of things. I did no excercise or walking before. I now try to average 10k steps per day (some days 3k is all I can do, but I do 20k some days). I also go to the gym and weight lift 3 times a week come rain or shine.
I can no longer significantly over eat. My body will only allow me to eat so many calories over before it physically hurts (for example if we have a meal out etc). The next few days my calorie intake naturally reduces to compensate. I track my calories so I have been able to see this happening. It's quite fascinating really.
So yes, it is possible to keep the weight off. You do need to change your lifestyle. The best way to change it is little changes though. Go at it slowly, but steadily and before you know it you will have set the foundations for your future health. WLI were instrumental in that, for me at least. They gave me breathing space.

The more you come on these threads about WLI, the more you'll realise that anyone who doesn't use them or doesn't automatically agree they are fabulous is treated with condescension and rudeness. It's a shame, because there is clearly good debate to be had.

I’ve just realised this too. Gosh I’ll stick to my lovely fasting group on here! Thanks for the solidarity as I was beginning to wonder what was going on?!

Really pleased for you! Well done. 👏

You will do anything to avoid answering anything that highlights that WLIs aren’t perfect.

It’s not good that you seem to be burying your head in the sand and attacking any poster that says anything negative about WLI’s.
Its not fair to those who are considering it to read biased views.

As someone who has struggled with their weight in the past and has done a lot of research in the area. I understand that it’s not purely greed or laziness that makes people overweight.
I understand the struggles that other women go through and the misinformation that is everywhere and how confusing it can be.

So I am ‘obsessed’ with the subject of weight because for those of us who have struggled with weight issues, it is literally all consuming and perhaps you don’t fully understand that.

I stand by my opinion that I am pro-WLI but they are not perfect.
Without sharing research or giving unbiased views then people like you are setting others up to fail.

There definitely is a wider cultural context here, and I don't think everyone realises the extent to which that exists and the fact that they can't opt out of it.

But I do think a lot of people who are wrong/making wild guesses mean well. Obviously one never knows someone's true motives, so maybe I'm misjudging. But my guess is there's a fairly big gap between the sort of person who assumes in good faith that professional support must help obesity because that sounds nice, and stuff like the troll threads (there was a corker yesterday) and people who post because they resent the value of their slimness being lowered.

Are you going to microdose yourself or is your provider onboard with this idea? I’m at my goal weight and I’m not sure where to from here? I feel like I could microdose but this hasn’t been given as an option to me and it seems like off label use.

Yes, too early to say. Pretty sobering statistic though if it were to be replicated more broadly.

Don’t take it personally 😂
Any thread that is about WLI’s have strange posters on.

Apparently saying anything slightly negative about WLI’s triggers them and they see it as a personal attack.

It’s weird because if I read posts about other users gaining weight I would want to know more so that I could try and avoid gaining the weight back but these posters just shut them down and try and push them off the threads.

Exactly this! I'm pro-WLI too – I just can't take them because I have a history of eating disorders. I can see how good they are in many cases but like you I find the pro-brigade's aggression when anyone voices caution just shocking. Telling you to step away from threads because you must be triggered rather than engage with your point is beyond condescending.

Right, this is my last post to you as I just can’t do it any more, you’re giving me a headache.

You have not posted any research or data as far as I can see. Some of the things you’ve posted have been easily debunked and explained by numerous posters - but you completely ignore those posts. It really is like screaming into the void.

Don’t post your opinions as fact and there won’t be a problem. Do you really think you can come on threads about WLI’s and say what you like - with no facts to back it ip
and no experience of even taking them yourself - and expect others who are better informed not to question you or tell you you’re incorrect?

You cannot go through life saying things that aren’t true and go unchallenged.

And as an aside, it seems to me with your self confessed obsession with food and dieting - you’d be an ideal WLI candidate.

And I wish you luck, I really do because being obsessed with weight/diet etc is really draining and miserable.

There are many people, say size 14/16/18 that do not qualify for these injections but are very unhappy with their weight.

Could there be a touch of jealousy that an obese person (maybe a friend of said size 14/16/18) is now getting some help and dropping to a size 8/10?

I’m a size 10/12 (always have been) but an adult child of an obese women (size 24/26) so I’m all for these injections as I’ve seen the horrific downside of obesity. So no jealousy from me.

EDIT: I suppose my question is for all those opposing the weight loss injections. Are you jealous?