“Take it one day at a time, one pound at a time,” she said. But thinking about losing over 300 pounds felt daunting. It created a very powerful cycle of over training, binge eating and body dysmorphia.” There are several weight loss injections available. If weight loss feels slow at first, that’s expected. They’re not designed to produce rapid weight loss. You may notice appetite changes within the first few weeks, but most weight loss happens once you reach the higher maintenance doses. The reason for this is that starting low gives your body time to adapt and helps reduce side effects like nausea. It can sometimes feel that you are living someone else’s life.But she learned to manage the side effects and, soon after starting the medication, began to lose weight.Nutritionist and exercise scientist Amelia Phillips spoke to us about the side effects of weight-loss drugs.Your calorie budgetwill change as your weight changes so be sure you are adjusting as you lose weight.ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a board-certified OB-GYN and board-certified in obesity medicine, echoed Aronne, saying it's important to understand that obesity is a chronic condition.Some people genetically produce lower levels of natural GLP hormones, meaning they do not sense when they are full, and end up binge eating, says Kim Dennis, a psychiatrist and CEO of SunCloud Health treatment center in Chicago.To reduce nausea while on semaglutide, registered dietitian Emily Rubin recommends skipping hot, fried or greasy food; and avoiding eating or cooking strong-smelling food. Both groups received instruction for a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. 30% of adults taking Wegovy® (pen) lost 20% or more weight, compared with 2% of adults on placebo, in a supportive measure. Novo Nordisk, Inc. does not sell semaglutide to any entities for use in compounding. Only Novo Nordisk, Inc. has FDA-approved products containing semaglutide, under trade names Rybelsus® , Ozempic® , and Wegovy®. Medical treatment from licensed providers is provided by the “LifeMD Affiliated P.C.s,” an affiliated network of medical Professional Corporations and Associations. Help adults with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off. Off-label drug uses and compounded drug products are not FDA-approved for weight loss. At year one, 56% of people on Saxenda lost ≥5% of their weight vs 25% of patients on placebo. Individual results may vary and depend on multiple factors, including adherence to medication, diet, physical activity, and individual health characteristics. I was nervous about how the weight was affecting my body overall. I might lose 5 pounds but then I would probably gain it back within the same month. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Wegovy® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures. It was the coolest experience because not once throughout my struggles of trying to lose weight, did I have someone actually holding me accountable. #KetoLeanReviews product is regarded as a potent fat burning supplement which puts your body in ketosis state and hence kicks start your body metabolic rate easily.Metformin is a prescription medicine that is FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus when hyperglycemia cannot be managed with diet and exercise alone.Part “b” shows the percentage of participants who had a better than 5% improvement with Wegovy (semaglutide) (blue bar) or placebo (grey bar).Will you opt for a semaglutide or tirzepatide medication?Studies suggest Mounjaro is the most effective weight loss medication yet.If you see anyone advertising compounded “Ozempic” or “Wegovy” instead of compounded semaglutide, it’s a red flag, Brunner says.The LifeMD Weight Management Program includes access to groundbreaking weight loss medications if appropriate, insurance assistance to help determine medication coverage, and ongoing provider care to help you reach your target weight. Lose 10% of your weight or your money back† Medication cost not included IDF has worked to improve patients’ lives for over 40 years through a commitment to our mission. Plus, the added stigma of being a man with an eating disorder meant it took him a long time to admit to himself, and then to his therapists. Something that I've noticed is that I'm no longer hungry all the time. We talked about how I would also need to stick to an exercise plan and a reduced calorie diet. One night I was talking with my neighbor about my weight. My doctor started expressing concerns about my excess weight and its impact on things like my blood pressure. When I was carrying all that weight, I was getting winded going up a flight of stairs. (see app #7 for list of these high calorie foods/condiments.) The nausea on Saturday and Sunday will limit food intake. Pinching the skin on the belly too hard & injecting in to it can cause leakage of drug back out along the very short needle tract because of the pressure simply from the pinching. Not rubbing the injection site for a few seconds permits medication leakage. Again check for food mistakes and have patience. The risk may be greater in people who have had these thoughts or actions in the past. About 3 out of every 100 people who take Metformin tablets have an unpleasant metallic taste when they start taking the medicine. Metformin is a prescription medicine that is FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus when hyperglycemia cannot be managed with diet and exercise alone. Metformin is approved by the FDA as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. But Bolling says he and his co-authors thought a lot about weight bias in medicine when crafting the recommendations. Insurance companies usually cover the cost of the medication if a child has a condition like Type 2 diabetes, the experts note. Some children with obesity develop high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and other complications, and these children might benefit from having their obesity treated, Bolling says. Bolling, who practiced adolescent obesity medicine for more than 20 years before retiring, says that, starting in the late 1990s, doctors noticed an “explosion of obesity prevalence” in kids. Registered pharmacy in the UK, we only dispatch genuine medication. These Wegovy before and after success stories — amongst many others — illustrate that genuine, sustained progress is well within reach for most people. Losing weight should be a long-term endeavour rather than just a quick-fix solution. Life after Wegovy isn’t just about the number on the scales; it’s also about a more energised, confident version of yourself emerging through the process. ” Generally speaking, weight loss medication should be taken chronically, similar to diabetes medication. So, to get back to the original question, “When should weight loss medication be stopped? Because we know that obesity causes 236 other medical problems, 13 of which are cancers, and that it can lower the lifespan 6-8 years, keeping the weight off can have a dramatic effect on our health, but only if it is kept off chronically. Keeping weight off is really the hardest part of all of this, but when successful it is possible to put the obesity into remission, restore health, quality of life and even lifespan. On Instagram, athlete and weight loss influencer Sarah Bäckman is one of many vocal proponents of GLP-1 microdosing. GLP-1 medications are usually injected, but some oral formulations exist. However, the relationship between dose and weight loss is not always linear. This suggests activating multiple receptors may boost weight loss beyond simply increasing the dose. Studies comparing different GLP-1 drugs show that some are more effective. Now, a lot of people probably can't relate. For some people, that's hugely powerful. ” There's a lot of noise in your head that relates to food. "This was something that I changed drastically at the start of my weight loss." Meg says getting 7 hours of sleep a night was crucial for her weight loss. Keep reading for more healthy-weight inspiration “The speed of weight loss using the Toward approach with no GLP-1 med is comparable to what we see in studies with GLP-1 meds,” he says. Since we almost always replace carbs with extra protein, therapeutic carb reduction floods our bodies with amino acids that help protect muscle during weight loss. Understanding how your medications interact leads to an important timeline most people don't know about. You've seen the headlines about dramatic weight loss results with GLP-1 medications. If you want to lose weight, these drugs can do it, but they're not the magic bullet. As far as I know, most of the effects of these medications are the effects of weight loss. Is it safe to take the anti-obesity drug Wegovy long-term? Doctors weigh in She said that, at the time, it was her response to her “deep depression of seeing this pregnant belly with no baby in it.” Eight weeks might already feel like a long time, but you have a long way to go. If you are coping well with medication, you’ll titrate the dosage every four weeks from this point onwards. You might also expect to be sleeping better and see overall improvements in your mental health—both things that can be intrinsically linked to your physical health. “Focus on making a lifestyle change, not just a quick way to lose weight.” After getting stuck in a turnstile at Disneyland because she weighed 510 pounds, Jacqueline Adan started her weight-loss journey, dropping 350 pounds in four and a half years. To stay motivated, she snapped a selfie every day, and with diet and exercise, she lost 128 pounds to weigh 185. "Side effects almost made me quit at week 6," admits Rachel T., now down 109 pounds. They call it "daily movement," and it's as non-negotiable as taking their medication. "I lost 142 pounds, and I credit 70% of my success to hitting 120 grams of protein daily," shares Jennifer K. The drug is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes and has weight loss as a prominent side effect, so it's often prescribed off-label for this reason. As weight-loss drugs have exploded in popularity this past year, part of the craze has been members of the public wondering which celebrities are on Ozempic. This means you’ll start to see physical signs of weight loss in different parts of your body—smaller stomach, more defined muscles in your legs and arms, and so on. Again, weight loss at this stage may start to be limited, but you may have lost somewhere around 5-6 pounds, or even more. Since then, Jackson-Williams told NBC News she’s making better food choices, her blood sugar has dropped to prediabetic levels, and she’s much more active and fit. She once weighed more than 400 pounds and started taking Ozempic in early 2021 to slim down and manage her Type 2 diabetes. Barbie Jackson-Williams, 55, of Des Moines, Iowa, says she has lost 180 pounds thanks to Ozempic and working out. She estimates she eats a quarter of what she was consuming before, to the point where she’s careful about scheduling time to eat and making sure she gets enough protein. Nutrition is an important part of your journey. Tirzepatide is a medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.Eventually, I was carrying around less weight and I was keeping it off.You can enhance your progress with our 5 ways to increase weight loss with Wegovy guide.This free body weight planner gives you an idea of how long it will take to reach your weight loss goal.And, Fitch notes, Medicare sets the standard for coverage in insurance generally, so this move could ultimately affect more patients.Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without nausea or vomiting. The former professional basketball star said he lost around 60 lb by taking Mounjaro, in addition to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. Her goal was to prove she could maintain the weight loss on her own. Their honesty is helping shift the conversation away from shame and toward real talk about managing weight and the impact this can have on all aspects of life, including physical and mental health. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. With over forty years of experience helping patients lose weight, Dr. Lipman has treated more than 1,200 patients using GLP-1 injections across Miami and throughout Florida via Telemedicine. These medications work by slowing gastric emptying time, i.e. the outlet of the stomach is functionally narrowed which permits only slow release of gastric contents. Reduction in lean body mass(less with semaglutides than other diets) and caloric needs also play a role. As Dr. Meghan shows, success comes from understanding and working with your body's individual response to these powerful medications. "There are always the outlier patients who month one or month two, they lose a lot of weight," Dr. Meghan notes. "Whether you're on liraglutide, semaglutide, or tirzepatide, that first month is really to let your body get used to the medication and to see how significant the side effects are going to be." Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb, a Boston-based physician board-certified in Internal Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Obesity Medicine, has guided hundreds of patients through their GLP-1 weight loss journeys. My guess is there are going to be people who lose weight and can’t wait to get out and move. I’m obsessed with the ZO Eye Serum to help with the sunken in eyes that have come with weight loss (not as much fat on my face). Ozempic Face & Ozempic Butt has been a real thing on my -68lb Mounjaro weight loss journey. Having lost over -92lbs with Mounjaro weight loss, I cook in the kitchen a lot more! Demi's focused now on building muscle while maintaining her weight loss. Demi doesn’t want to lose any more weight, and she’s been talking to her doctor about next steps. But today's GLP-1s are more powerful and wholly different from earlier types of weight-loss drugs, DeCaro says. "Other potential side effects of weight-loss medications, like nausea, dizziness and fatigue, can make physical activity feel harder, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or when increasing your dose." GP Dr Crystal Wyllie also spoke to us about how muscle loss is not unique to Ozempic users, it’s a known side effect of rapid weight loss in general. While the drugs can lead to significant fat reduction and improved metabolic health, experts say there are important nuances to understand about how they affect muscle, metabolism and overall strength. Nutritionist and exercise scientist Amelia Phillips spoke to us about the side effects of weight-loss drugs. Since appearing on Shark Tank, Perfect Keto has experienced rapid growth and has become a trusted name in the keto community.One of the standout products from Perfect Keto is their MCT oil powder, which is a convenient alternative to traditional MCT oil.It’s a hurdle many people face during a weight loss journey, Rickel says.As Dr. Meghan shows, success comes from understanding and working with your body's individual response to these powerful medications.After reaching their goal weight successfully, they felt great in their body again and began to enjoy physical activity and sports.The “Jon & Kate Plus 8” alum spoke to Page Six on April 26, 2024 about his experience taking weight-loss medication.Unlike calculators based on the outdated "3,500 calories per pound" rule, it accounts for how your metabolism and body composition change as you lose or gain weight, giving you a more accurate and sustainable plan.Four years after starting semaglutide, patients maintained an average weight loss of 10% of their body weight, a peer-reviewed 2024 study funded by Novo Nordisk found. Doctors Weight Loss: Protein is Key I don't think we've yet identified the best diet post-medications. It isn't like, boom, I stopped the drugs and now I'm going to go on a food binge. When people are taking these medications, they report that that goes away. “It was making me think I wasn’t hungry for so long, I lost some weight," she continued. "I didn’t want to be obsessed with being on it long term."I haven’t had massive results, but enough for people to notice, which is great," she added.The former Xscape member revealed that she tried a weight-loss drug on the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast in June.Meg lost half the weight she needed before taking Wegovy and kept those good habits up throughout her journey.She added that her goal for taking Ozempic is not to lose weight fast because "I think it looks horrible. ... I would like to lose it slowly."We were impressed by u/gersktay's story and realistic view on his life expectancy if he continued at the weight he was.Six years ago, Buckley enrolled Demi in eating disorder recovery, and the teen started taking medication for anxiety and depression.Krynicki, an insurance coordinator in Brick, NJ, got bariatric surgery a decade ago, but during the pandemic regained some of that weight. When to stop a weight loss medication She realized she needed to drop pounds to be healthier. As soon as Jamie Lanigan — who dropped 145 pounds thanks in part to a lunch club at work — started losing weight, she happily donated her clothes to charity. While most people expect to eat new foods and start exercise routines, they experience many surprising changes. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Metformin tablets? Healthcare providers have the discretion to prescribe a medication for other uses as part of the practice of medicine. Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you decide if Tirzepatide is right for you. You may potentially lose a couple of pounds here, but this will be too small to notice any physical change. Your level of semaglutide in your body is not steady yet, so will fluctuate depending on how long it is since you took the injection. Although this is a small dosage, your body will start almost immediately recognise the effects of the medication. These are the first steps on a long weight loss journey, and it's really important to start implementing habits and routines at this stage. So what might weight loss progress look like when you’re taking Wegovy? She didn't experience the same side effects while taking this medication.If you have any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.IDF has worked to improve patients’ lives for over 40 years through a commitment to our mission.Perfect Keto’s exogenous ketones come in a range of flavors and are formulated to provide a quick and easy way to get into ketosis.This foundational requirement becomes particularly relevant when addressing weight loss plateaus.Research shows that most people who stop taking the medications gain most of the weight back, meaning that most people need to keep taking the medications to see results, TODAY.com previously reported. GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are diabetes treatments that help suppress appetite and are typically administered through weekly injections. Oprah revealed that her highest weight was 237 lbs, before she began to use GLP-1 medication, which is typically used as an appetite suppressant. The star has lost almost 50 lbs on her weight loss journey, which was kick-started when she underwent a knee operation in 2021. While the road is bumpy (and sometimes hilariously unpredictable), it’s also filled with moments of genuine triumph and self-discovery. Losing weight isn’t just a physical transformation—it’s a total overhaul of your self-image. When that didn't work, Schorr said she reached out for professional help and saw a nurse practitioner who helps patients with weight loss.“As an athlete and as someone that has done everything, I just couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be at a healthy place — and believe me, I don’t take shortcuts.”For me, 342 pounds felt like I had a boulder on me.She wanted to share her experience taking this type of medication — known as GLP-1 agonists because they mimic the hormone GLP-1 — to help others understand what it’s like.Justine McCabe noticed many people think they need to be a certain weight and arbitrarily pick a number to reach.From exogenous ketones to MCT oil, these products claim to support weight loss, increase energy levels, and improve overall wellness."I love that I'm a full woman and I am strong, and I'm powerful, and I'm beautiful at the same time. And there's nothing wrong like that. It's so important to look at the positives; if I get caught up looking at the negatives, it can really bring you down. I don't have time to be brought down, I've got too many things to do. I have Grand Slams to win, I have people to inspire, and that's what I'm here for."“I really wish I kept one pair of pants from my start weight so I could have a tangible reminder of how far I’ve come. So I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to try this.’ And I didn’t lose any weight," she said. I saw so many people who were trying it and losing weight. The former Xscape member revealed that she tried a weight-loss drug on the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast in June. He made the decision to try the medication after reaching 270 pounds. Fierstein shared that after going off the medication, he regained about 15 pounds but has stayed at around 200 pounds. Typically after losing 20 pounds the body begins to resist further weight loss by reducing metabolism. Average weight loss with these drugs ranges from 15 to 25% of starting weight. Those patients with diabetes or a family history of obesity seem to have early weight loss slow downs. The body actually resists the weight loss because it thinks it’s being “starved to death.” At that time the dieter will experience fullness, appetite suppression and rapid weight loss. Trulicity® is for adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose). Victoza® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyr oid tumors or a type of thyr oid cancer called medullary thyr oid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them. Wegovy weeks 1 & 2 I was at a really comfortable, about 215 pounds. Right now, my weight is my number one priority. Before I knew it, I gained like 70 pounds over a stretch of about 10 years. But as time went on, I was eating more and exercising less. Lustig believes obesity is a chronic symptom of a chronic metabolic dysfunction and says Wegovy makes people only “minimally” healthier. When patients ask McGowan whether it’s safe to take the drug for years, he tells them there are no long-term studies on Wegovy. The drug should be taken under the direction of a healthcare provider, together with meal planning and increased physical activity, the company adds. “Data from our clinical trials for Wegovy showed that, not unexpectedly, patients experience weight regain once they stop taking the medication,” the company says in a statement to TODAY.com. Patients with obesity can now also take Zepbound, a rival weight-loss drug made by Eli Lilly. Get the latest on the science of healthy living in our weekly newsletter. Jason Krynicki once lived in a much larger body and was teased mercilessly for it. In the past, Oprah revealed her goal weight was 160 lbs., but now she has refrained from sharing her current weight. "While the fat loss is beneficial for health, the drop in muscle mass is concerning because muscle supports metabolism, strength, mobility and glucose regulation, helping to prevent frailty, chronic disease and age-related decline." "Ozempic (semaglutide) mimics the gut hormone GLP-1, which slows gastric emptying, reduces appetite and improves insulin release, helping to stabilise blood sugar and curb cravings," explained registered exercise scientist and nutritionist Amelia. Proper Calorie Intake Social media influencers often become early adopters of experimental health trends, sometimes promoting treatments long before robust scientific studies have confirmed their safety or effectiveness.Metformin is approved by the FDA as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Many people notice that they think about food less, feel satisfied with smaller portions, and find it easier to stop eating when they’re full.1Wegovy® should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products, other GLP-1 medicines or in children under 12 years of age.The risk may be greater in people who have had these thoughts or actions in the past.The comedian also encouraged other celebrities to be more honest if they are using Ozempic or similar medications. While some people may think that only women are benefiting from taking semaglutide, there are a fair share of men who have jumped on this weight loss craze. When taking Wegovy or any other weight loss medication, it’s essential to set realistic goals as you progress through your journey. The timeline above shows what an average Wegovy weight loss journey might look like, but individual results can vary depending on how your body responds to treatment. Everybody starts on the same amount, regardless of whether you’ve taken Wegovy before or used a different weight loss medication, such as Mounjaro. Contrary to what many expect, the first month isn't about dropping pounds. We still need data to prove that, but so far, there haven't been any red flags to say over time they quit being effective. I would like to see more data on older people. If you take these meds and you're not active, you don't worry so much about your diet -- is that success? It shows if we could as a population reduce weight, all those important things would come along. “It was frustrating for me because I know that logically you need food to have energy,” she added. So, when I had lost that baby at 20 weeks, I had probably gained an extra 40 pounds that I wasn’t comfortable with.” “My body was completely stuck,” she said. It’s a good time to start putting together a diet plan that includes the foods you can eat and identifying those that you should avoid or limit. Week one of your Wegovy weight loss journey will involve injecting your first of four weekly doses of 0.25 mg of semaglutide. Choosing the right medication to support you on your weight loss journey is key to you achieving your goals, and Wegovy is one of the options available to you. Now that I’ve lost so much weight, I travel more! The 12 cup drip coffee maker makes delicious coffee and it’s easy to clean. The first time I used it, I was shook! A must have body wash in your toiletry case is this body wash! This is based on the results of two clinical trials, which measured the medication’s effectiveness over the first four weeks and beyond. Side effects may be more manageable at this point, and it’s common to really notice a difference in appetite. The really noticeable difference, however, should be in terms of appetite and food consumption. They work out 3–6 times per week, eat in moderation, and can run and play with their son without limitations. Some people genetically produce lower levels of natural GLP hormones, meaning they do not sense when they are full, and end up binge eating, says Kim Dennis, a psychiatrist and CEO of SunCloud Health treatment center in Chicago. "There were people out there that many folks looked up to who were in larger bodies, and there has really been some grief around losing that representation," she says. She is concerned they are potentially more harmful, because they make it harder for people to nourish themselves regularly, or tune into their natural hunger cues. "I've lost hair," he says, and sometimes he feels light-headed because his blood-sugar falls too low. In the good old days, it was thought that if a person could lose weight and keep it off for a time, the body would accept this lower weight as a new setpoint, and that weight regain would then become increasingly unlikely. Perhaps the most common question I get from both referring doctors and patients is, “When should weight loss medication be stopped? Research shows that most people who stop taking the medications gain most of the weight back, meaning that most people need to keep taking the medications to see results, TODAY.com previously reported. Whatever the reasoning, treating weight loss like a marathon rather than a sprint is the most effective approach. For some, weight-related health conditions also start to improve. Before you start Wegovy, you may be experiencing weight-related health concerns, like prediabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, or difficulty sleeping. Many people describe feeling stuck in the cycle of trying to manage their weight while battling low energy levels, fluctuating motivation, and dips in self-esteem. As your body evolves, our medical team adjusts your care to keep pace. Our treatment plans start with your data, history, and goals, and your medication is compounded to match. Understand your GLP-1 weight-loss potential, and get tailored daily calorie and protein targets in one quick calculation. Topiramate may have negative effects on growth in children TOPIRAMATE may slow height increases and weight gain in children and adolescents when used over a long period. "If you need to drop the dose and then expand the frequency, to taking it maybe once a month, once every other week, the key is keeping you at that healthy weight in the safest, most efficacious way we can do it." Obtaining semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy has become a more popular option for people whose insurance may not cover Ozempic of Wegovy, which can cost over $1,000 per month without insurance coverage. Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes, but some doctors prescribe them "off-label" for weight loss. Medical experts say it is normal for a medication taken for a chronic medical condition, like obesity, to stop working when a user stops taking it. "I started working out, so now I work out multiple times a week," Shepherd said of how she's managed to not regain weight. You might notice you get full faster or think about food less.3 Many people feel some appetite changes at the starting dose of 0.25mg. Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide). She decided it was time to make changes to take control of her health. But they have struggled with weight regain and feel like they need something that helps them more efficiently and effectively sustain weight loss long term.” “They’ve tried many different lifestyle modifications, multiple diets, and sometimes with great success. How do GLP-1s affect weight loss quality? The second thing is this shows how important weight loss is. We can't say you didn't lose weight because you don't have willpower or you didn't stick to your plan. Even though there’s a clear link between dosage and weight loss, people respond differently to GLP-1 medications. Beyond glucose control and weight management, GLP-1 drugs have demonstrated potential benefits for cardiovascular health, including reduced risks of heart attacks and strokes in people with diabetes. Lustig tells people who want to lose weight to talk with a doctor or nutritionist about their particular cause of obesity, whether it’s hunger, reward, stress or a combination of those factors and then target those triggers. Ashton said that some people with obesity may need to stay on a medication for weight loss "indefinitely." The medications work by slowing down the movement of food through the stomach and curbing appetite, thereby causing weight loss. A study released last year by the National Institutes of Health found that once patients go off medications for weight loss, the average weight gain rebound is about two-thirds of the total weight loss. As the popularity of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has grown, so too have headlines of potential downsides of the medications, including weight gain after stopping use.