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?

I don’t think you’re wrong at all, it’s why I’ve been on the fence about taking them or not.

Many moons ago I took weight loss medication (although now I see it wasn’t necessary but unfortunately I have an almond mom who was happy to get it) and as soon as I couldn’t afford it anymore (private doctor, expensive prescription) I felt hunger like I never felt before in my life. I could have eaten the world.

So because the BBC published an article about WLI, they should now publish an article about every single medication?

Of course. but as the article said:

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

Not much of an 'emotional response' I didnt use WLI to lose weight and I dont use them.

Like many others on the thread Im observing this with a raise and cynical eyebrow

There'll be another thread of the same ilk along tomorrow anyway.

People are not allowed to ask questions about or ponder the implications of WLI on MN, that is clear.

OP "feels uneasy" (see actual title of this thread). And says "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."

That sounds like being concerned and critical to me.

Of course they are allowed, they just might not like some of the responses

We also need to support our base food producers, fish, meat, poulty, dairy, fruit and veg with pulses and legumes.

The traffic light system is not fit for purpose.

The addition of sweetners to foods that either a) shouldnt have sugar at all or b) could have just lowered the sugar amount rather than replace with overly sweet artifice, should be banned

Govrenment needs to get tough with food manufacturers

We also need to stop seeing supermarkets as benign friends, they are businesses, their sole reason for existing is to sell us food that we dont want or need. They need a fat society.

interesting
i was surprised this was even mentioned on the news last week.

duh,
you stop whatever diet you are on and yes the weight will come back

That does seem to the case. Certain posters who are against any questioning of any possible implications of WLI can't seem to stop using the word 'fattie'.

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

Weight gain is quicker coming off the jabs, duh.

Still not the case

@HazelMember this is a meta study looking at the trial data where participants either stopped immediately or were transferred onto a placebo. It does not represent real world use of these medications by people who are self funding and aren’t reliant on a medical trial to access the medication. I’d like to see more detailed studies on different ways to come off using WLIs to see if that makes a difference to weight regain and long term maintenance. Eg titration down, maintaining at target weight on a lower dose for an extended period, whether exercise makes a big difference, what kind and how much, etc etc.

I honestly don’t know what someone who is obese is meant to do to satisfy all the critics and concerned bystanders. Other than lose weight via willpower alone, which is the only acceptable approach it seems.

Yes. And they have much more to regain, since WLIs are more effective than dieting in getting the weight off in the first place. Notice that it doesn't say the WLI takers ended up heavier.

The reality is that we only have one proven way of making an obese person non-obese for the longer term.

Yes that would be very interesting silence

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

You're very aggressive and also defensive op. Very goady in style.

Your style invites suspicion of your motivations.

I think also the increasing numbers of takeaways appearing everywhere is an issue.

https://arc-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/news/putting-the-brakes-on-fast-food/

Research shows that restricting new fast-food outlets can reduce levels of childhood obesity

Exactly, as I said its the po facedness, its not genuine curiosity or chit chat, going to and fro in discussion.

Its snidey, needling, air of superiority. Not genuine.

These threads are all the same with the same tone.

I do agree that more detailed studies are needed and hopefully they will come out over time as more research is conducted.

I was considering WLI but have changed my mind due to the research about rebound weight gain.

I’ll continue to do it the old fashioned way until the end of this year and if I end up needing more help I’ll opt for gastric sleeve surgery since it physically alters your stomach size and doesn’t have the same rebound effect.

I just don’t fancy the gallstones / pancreatitis potential if you have to take it for life.

I think they will, it's obviously a very live issue. The reviewers in the BMJ piece were very clear about the limitations of their findings and the need for more research, unfortunately there wasn't so much emphasis on that in the coverage.

So what if it is a life long medication? If it reduces diseases related to obesity it will be worth it for the person taking the medication as well as the NHS.

I’ve been on it 2 years. Under no illusions that I would regain if I stopped taking it.

It’s always going to be risky just treating obesity with a drug alone. If people want to come off the drug they need to completely change their life style and fix their relationship with food. Without that people will just rebound once they stop suppressing their appetites.

counselling, cooking classes and gym memberships with personal training sessions should be offered along side and people may have a chance of keeping the weight off once the injections stop. But that would cost too much money so wouldn’t happen.