Stoppers (not using maintenance dosing) - 60% regain weight, who are the 40% who don't

[KindlySurfiingPlatypus]

When I was looking into WLI I asked the prescriber for reassurance that this wasn't going to be yet another yoyo in the cycle of losing weight and regaining it all. On the phone appointment she claimed there was good evidence that people who use the WLI to reset their food expectations can successfully keep the weight off after treatment ends.

I am on an NHS Tier3 programme and have a maximum of 2 years on WLIs. I am on a low income and could not afford to continue privately beyond the 2 years so I will have to stop whatever happens.

But now I have read that the majority of people who stop will regain all the lost weight within 2 years so I'm finding that really difficult to deal with. I am working so hard to make permanent changes and I don't want this effort to be wasted. Is there anyone out there who has stopped WLIs and didn't regain the lost weight?

If you get two years free, grab it! At that point you could be at target, the drugs might be cheaper then, you could consider micro dosing (taking a smaller dosage so the pen lasts twice as long). Look into any free gym access options and make more exercise a part of your plan to help you keep the weight off.

I wouldn't let the worry about regain and maintenance put you off trying to lose the weight in the first place. It's a better position to be in, to be at target and trying to maintain, than to remain obese.

There will be people who have stopped completely and not (yet) regained the weight they lost. There will be lots of people who have restarted or stayed on a maintenance dose. Individual circumstances will vary.

If you are already making lifestyle changes and then possibly having up to 2 years on WLI, then that is a long time to embed those changes. There is some evidence that exercise is helpful for long term maintenance so that's something to plan in if you are not already.