Weight-loss Injections: Warning Issued Over Regain Risk After Stopping Medication
Patients across the UK using weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro are being urged to seek proper aftercare, as health officials warn of significant risks of weight regain once treatment ends.
This comes as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released a new “quality standard”, emphasising the need for structured follow-up and lifestyle support for individuals coming off the increasingly popular jabs.
These medications, hailed for their ability to drive rapid weight loss, are currently being used by an estimated 1.5 million people across the UK. But here’s the catch, most of them are self-funded, and won’t qualify for NHS aftercare once their course ends.
Nice’s new recommendations, however, apply strictly to patients receiving the medication through the NHS. Over the next three years, roughly 240,000 people considered to have the “greatest need” will be prescribed Mounjaro (tirzepatide) through NHS services.
Despite the promise shown by these injections, experts stress that the journey doesn’t end when the injections do.
“Successful weight management doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme,” said Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice.
The standard recommends that patients be monitored for at least 12 months after coming off the jabs, with targeted support to prevent relapse. This includes behavioural coaching, digital self-monitoring tools, and community or family-based interventions.
“This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a ‘sickness service’ to a genuine health service focused on prevention,” added Professor Benger.
It’s a significant moment for NHS weight management policy, marking a shift from short-term fixes to long-term health strategies.
“Weight management is a long-term journey, not a short-term fix,” said Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice’s Quality Standards Advisory Committee.
“The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines or completing behavioural interventions can help prevent weight regain and enable people to experience lasting benefits.”
“This quality standard will help ensure all healthcare providers adopt these best practices, giving every person the best chance of maintaining their weight management success over the long term.”
The message is clear: without adequate support, even the most effective medications may only provide temporary results.
Community healthcare professionals echoed these concerns. “Pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wrap-around support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight,” said Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association.
“We know that although medication can be effective in speeding up weight loss in some people, it is not a silver bullet and patients need to make long term lifestyle changes to make their weight loss sustainable.”
Professor Kamila Hawthorne of the Royal College of GPs also warned that individual responses to weight-loss drugs vary, and follow-up care must be personalised and robust.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling obesity; what works for one patient will likely not work for another and, as with any medication, weight-loss drugs do not come without risk.”
“It’s also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication. As such, this is important and sensible guidance from Nice.”
The UK’s growing reliance on weight-loss injections must be paired with a stronger safety net. Without it, many patients could face a harsh rebound once the medication stops.
