The surge in popularity of weight loss medications is expected to see significant growth in 2026, raising concerns about the strategies for individuals discontinuing their use.
Projections indicate that a growing number of individuals in the UK are willing to endure common side effects like nausea and vomiting in the anticipation of managing them effectively to achieve substantial weight reduction from these medications.
This year will mark the approval of the second wave of weight loss drugs in pill form, allowing users to transition from weekly injections to daily oral tablets, which are not only more convenient but also cost-effective in terms of storage and production compared to injections.
There is a critical need for a public discourse on how users can navigate life while on these medications, particularly when faced with the prospect of discontinuation.
Medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy, administered via weekly injections, function by retarding digestion and diminishing appetite through mimicking a hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) that regulates hunger and satiety.
While these drugs, like many others, carry a slight risk of severe side effects, the potential health hazards posed by persistent obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer, outweigh the risks for most individuals.
The upcoming year is anticipated to witness over three million people, including one in ten individuals aged 25 to 49, resorting to appetite-suppressing medications, marking a significant increase from the current estimate of 1-1.5 million users.
In contrast, statins, widely prescribed in the UK to lower “bad” cholesterol levels, are consumed by approximately eight million people at a low cost, serving as a preventive measure against health issues.
The majority of individuals using weight loss drugs are likely to acquire them privately as the NHS is yet to establish sufficient support services for widespread prescription, despite an estimated 15 million obese adults in the UK.
Personalized clinical support and counseling are essential for users to modify long-standing dietary and lifestyle habits that have been ingrained over years, even from early childhood.
Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity revealed concerns regarding the reliance on these drugs, with studies indicating that individuals tend to regain lost weight within a year of discontinuation.
Many users discontinue treatment due to financial constraints, intolerable side effects, or lack of weight loss efficacy.
Moreover, studies indicate that individuals may experience loss of both fat and muscle mass while on these medications, yet regain fat upon cessation without regaining muscle.
Additional research suggests that gradual dose reduction with specialized support, following substantial dietary and activity modifications, may enable some patients to discontinue these medications.
At a conference attended last year, a top NHS official expressed optimism that weight loss injections could potentially revolutionize treatment, akin to the impact of statins, if they become more accessible.
NHS England’s medical director emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating obesity rates and associated health conditions, emphasizing the need for radical interventions to curb the financial burden on the healthcare system.
Regulatory approval is anticipated for the first tablet form weight loss drug, ‘orforglipron,’ manufactured by Eli Lilly, showing promising results in trial participants with a 12% body weight reduction, signaling a new era of weight loss medications.
As more weight loss drugs enter the market and become more affordable over time, it is crucial not to view them as a simple solution for weight loss, as regained weight remains a potential issue.
A cautionary note came from England’s chief medical officer, underscoring that these drugs should not distract from addressing the root causes of obesity driven by unhealthy dietary practices and pervasive marketing of junk food, particularly in disadvantaged communities.