One of the most popular weight loss methods of recent years is weight loss injections. Many people who use these injections say for the first time that “food noise” has gone quiet. In other words, that inner voice that says “eat” even when you’re full suddenly disappears. These injections work by suppressing appetite and also by slightly slowing the stomach’s digestive function.
But the real question is:
When You Stop Weight Loss Injections
“It’s like a button gets pressed and you feel like you’re starving to death”
A woman named Tanya says that every time she stops the injections, she starts eating uncontrollably within a few days.
“It’s like something opens up in my mind and says, ‘eat everything.’”
Tanya, who lost 38 kilos in 18 months, tried to quit the medication many times, but each time she went back to using it out of fear of quickly gaining weight. To her, stopping feels like jumping off a cliff.
What Does Science Say?
Experts say this fear is not unfounded. The data obtained so far show that people who stop the medication regain 60–80% of the weight they lost within 1–3 years. This is because these drugs mimic a hormone that controls hunger. When you stop the drug, the body returns to its old signals.
Not Everyone Experiences The Same Outcome
Ellen’s story is a bit different. Although she gained some weight after stopping the medication, she didn’t panic and didn’t return to old habits. Today, she has lost more than 50 kilos and largely maintains her weight.
She used these injections as a “last resort.” She says this openly:
“I was an emotional eater. I ate when I was happy and when I was sad.” Once her appetite was suppressed thanks to the injections, Ellen was able to do the following for the first time:
- She became aware of her relationship with food
- She started learning about nutrition
- She consciously chose what she ate
- As she lost weight, she made exercise part of her life
The most critical difference between Tanya and Ellen is this: Before stopping the medication, Ellen made a transition plan. She gradually reduced the dose, and during that time:
She started running
She replaced the “if I feel down, I’ll eat” reflex with movement
She didn’t shape her life around the medication; instead, she used the medication as temporary support in her life
The Main Issue Isn’t The Injection
The point experts emphasize is very clear:
These medications are not a solution on their own
Obesity is not just “a hormone deficiency”
The most important thing is a strategy for stopping the medication
Without support and without changing habits, the likelihood of regaining weight after stopping the injections is very high.
Conclusion
Weight loss injections have been life-changing for many people. But the process of stopping is at least as important as starting.
Some choose to use the medication for a long time, while others continue their journey with new habits.
The real question is:
Losing weight is easy when the injection is there… But what happens after?
Source
BBC Turkish – “What do people experience after stopping weight loss injections?”
https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cgl63jeee4ko
