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Weight-loss drugs silence hunger-but at what cost?
For millions using GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro, the drugs have muted the persistent mental chatter urging them to eat. Yet stopping the injections often triggers an immediate, overwhelming return of cravings, leaving users torn between side effects and fear of regaining weight.
'Food noise' returns within days of stopping
Tanya Hall, a sales manager at a fitness company, began taking Wegovy 18 months ago to counter workplace bias linked to her weight. The medication delivered rapid results-she lost 38kg (six stone)-but also brought side effects: insomnia, nausea, headaches, and hair loss. Despite these drawbacks, she now feels trapped.
"Each time I stop, it's like a switch flips," Hall said. "My mind screams, 'Eat everything-you deserve it.'" Within days, she binges uncontrollably, horrified by her own behavior. Though she's reached a comfortable weight, the prospect of withdrawal terrifies her. "I've been overweight for 38 years. Now, I'm afraid the drug controls me more than I control it."
Doctors warn of rebound weight gain
Lifestyle physician Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi compares stopping GLP-1 drugs to "jumping off a cliff." Patients who discontinue treatment after hitting their target weight often see 60-80% of the lost weight return within one to three years. The hunger signals suppressed by the medication resurface almost immediately, sometimes within 24 hours.
The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends at least a year of post-treatment support, including tailored dietary and behavioral plans. However, private patients like Hall and Ellen Ogley lack guaranteed access to such resources.
One user's success story-with caveats
Ellen Ogley turned to Mounjaro after her weight jeopardized a critical surgery. An emotional binge eater, she described her relationship with food as "filterless"-eating compulsively whether happy or sad. The drug silenced those urges, allowing her to rebuild her diet and exercise habits. Over 16 weeks, she lost 22kg (3st 7lb).
When she tapered off the medication, the weight crept back, unsettling her. "It messed with my head," she admitted. Still, Ogley has since lost a total of 51kg (eight stone) and insists life after Mounjaro can be sustainable. "I want people to know it's possible," she said.
Manufacturers stress medical oversight
Novo Nordisk, maker of Wegovy, advises that treatment decisions should involve healthcare providers weighing benefits against side effects. Eli Lilly, manufacturer of Mounjaro, states patient safety is its "top priority" and commits to monitoring and reporting data to regulators.
Dr. Al-Zubaidi argues the real challenge lies beyond the drugs. "Obesity isn't a GLP-1 deficiency," he said. "Society needs environments that promote health, not weight gain." Without structural changes-like better food policies and mental health support-he fears many users will struggle to maintain progress off the medication.
Uncertain futures and personal trade-offs
Hall remains on Wegovy, acknowledging the financial strain (private prescriptions cost hundreds monthly) and side effects. "I'm comfortable now, but I don't know how to stop," she said. For her, the drug feels like both a lifeline and a crutch.
Ogley, meanwhile, has moved on. "This chapter is closed," she said. Her focus now is proving that weight loss can endure without medication-but her journey underscores the complex, individualized nature of the decision.
"The question is: What happens when people come off these injections?"
Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi
