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

[HazelMember]

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?

Another WLI bashing thread, what fun. I’ll get my bingo card ready.

Some conditions may require lifelong medication. Obesity is one of the conditions. However, because its obesity, the idea of this seems odd to people.
Are you considering wli yourself op?

I think most will need to be on them for life. Because there’s a reason most needed them in the first place. Hopefully a pill will come along and it will keep improving with less side effects.

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

Eli lilly are working on a mounjaro pill!

Exactly this. Another faux concern post because people can’t stand the fatties being thin. Find your social capital elsewhere, would be my advice.

other sources have found many people will keep weight off successfully. But yes, many need to keep taking the wli just like any other medication to treat a chronic condition. I'm not stopping thyroid meds just because my levels at the moment are normal.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/many-patients-may-keep-off-lost-pounds-after-stopping-glp-1-us-data-suggests-2026-01-22/

Lots of medications for lifelong health conditions can be withdrawn for various reasons, or patients can develop unacceptable side effects. WLI are no different in this respect.

There are new medications being developed and trialled at the moment which might be cheaper, might minimise side effects for those who suffer.

I can’t imagine not taking epilepsy/asthma medication because I might have to stop taking it for any reason.

It doesn't seem fair that they are only available to people who can afford them, but that's life I guess. Yet another privilege for the rich who can afford to buy them for life.

You're looking at it all wrong OP!
It's about making money for the big corporations.
Fast food companies produce HIFLs (highly addictive food-like substances) many people cant resist them and become overweight.
Pharmaceutical companies have found a solution but it only works while you are using it. When you stop you cant resist the lure of the HIFLs, so they get your money for a while. Then you go back on the jabs and the pharma companies get your money, until you get fed up of the side effects and go back on the HIFLs.
Etc.

Where did I say I had a a problem with fatties being thin? If they are now thin then they are not fatties anymore surely? (to use your language).

@HazelMember how long have you been on WLI so far OP?

It would make sense for them to be more widely available as it would be cheaper for the NHS in the long run.

I think it’s incredibly naive to think that you’re going to stroll off into the sunset without working very hard to maintain a weight loss. I’m on WLI and hope to drop them at the end. Most of my “naturally slim” friends work very hard at staying slim. I want to be like them - keeping an eye on my weight and reining myself in if need be. I definitely don’t want to stay on the drugs, despite having had no side effects whatsoever. I was obese, I’m not any longer. I was prediabetic, I’m not any more. I had high blood pressure and cholesterol, I don’t any more. I hope I can do it myself. I’ve been able to eat pretty normally on WLI l, I didn’t get full and had “food noise” so I hope I got used to using willpower and eating sensibly as much as the drugs.

That’s great news

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.

They have the choice to maintain the eating habits they've adopted on WLI - it may be hard but no harder than starting a diet from a position of being obese.

I think the problem is that when you’re on it, I suppresses your appetite and people think they’ve got used to smaller portions so will be fine once stopped. Appetite soon comes back when you finish them. (I’ve used the jabs for a few months but stopped as the side effects)

What side effects did you have?

If you took a brief stroll through historical posts, there are many posters like you expressing wide-eyed concern about the implications of life on a WLI. Do you feel the same disquiet about statins?

These WLI are going to come back and bite everyone on the backside in a few years.

Does this mean I have a problem with fatties being thin? To quote the language of the pp.

I disagree.

This is a HUGE issue. It is a drug that needs to be taken continuously otherwise you lose all benefits. For those who might struggle with money, or have a change in financial circumstances, or the price of the drug goes up, then they have no choice but to stop.

But ultimately, people already know this so need to make sure they have the financial means to continue or accept that they will have to find a more sustainable way to lose weight.

The drug is made by Novo Nordisk, so what's to stop them suddenly pushing the price up? I mean, it would make them a LOT of money now all these people are so reliant on it. They have HUGE pricing power here.

This is how a lot of successful diet things work. Herbalife is the same - it's a starvation diet that is only sustainable if you keep paying the exorbitant prices for their shakes. As soon as you stop, the weight goes back on. And the people selling this stuff are making a HUGE amount of money from it, and throw huge party conferences to celebrate!

So YABU to accuse people of starting a bashing thread when this could become a huge headache for many people trying to lose weight.

Weight loss only works if you change your lifestyle. Weightloss drugs are no different, so no surprises here?

You are absolutely spot on

"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."

And also about how they are not available to normal weight people with small amounts to lose or maintain, but previously overweight/obese people can take them even while at a healthy weight.