The global rise of anti-diabetic and weight-loss injections has offered new hope to millions battling obesity. However, a stark reality is emerging for those who try to stop these medications. Personal accounts reveal a brutal struggle with rebound hunger and weight regain, highlighting the complex, long-term commitment these treatments demand.
The Personal Battle: Tanya's Story of Control and 'Addiction'
Tanya Hall, a sales manager for a large fitness company, felt like an "imposter" due to her weight. After starting the injectable drug Wegovy, she lost approximately three and a half stone (about 22 kg). The transformation brought congratulations and more respect from others.
However, the journey was fraught with side effects. Tanya struggled with sleeplessness, constant sickness, headaches, and significant hair loss – a potential side effect of rapid weight loss itself. Despite this, the results kept her going.
More than 18 months in, her attempts to quit the drug unveiled a darker side. "It's like a switch that goes on and you're instantly starving," she described to the BBC. Within days of stopping, she experienced uncontrollable hunger, eating to the point of being "completely horrified."
She described a mental voice urging, "Eat everything, go on, you deserve it because you haven't eaten anything for so long." This forced her back on the medication. Now 38 kg lighter, Tanya speaks of a complex relationship with the drug, wondering if she is addicted to the control it provides or if the drug ultimately controls her.
Expert Warning: The 'Avalanche' Effect and Weight Regain
Lifestyle GP Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi provides a chilling metaphor for the experience of stopping these medications: it feels like "jumping off a cliff." He warns that discontinuing, especially from the highest dose, can hit like an "avalanche or a tsunami," with 'food noise' returning as soon as the next day.
The evidence on long-term outcomes is concerning. Dr Al-Zubaidi states that within one to three years of stopping, people regain a "significant proportion" of lost weight. "Somewhere in the region of 60% to 80% of the weight that you lost will return," he explained.
The critical need, he stresses, is for a robust "exit strategy." The UK's medicine watchdog, NICE, recommends at least a year of ongoing advice and tailored action plans post-treatment to help maintain weight loss through lifestyle changes. However, for private patients like Tanya, such structured support is not guaranteed.
The Indian Context: New Drugs, Same Challenges
The landscape for obesity treatment in India is expanding rapidly. Recently, Novo Nordisk's Ozempic entered the Indian market. Furthermore, Wegovy was launched in India on June 24. In a significant development, India's drug regulator approved Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, on June 26, 2025, as reported by Reuters.
This influx provides more options for Indian patients but also brings the same cautions to the fore. Experts universally advise that decisions on dosage and duration must be made in close consultation with a healthcare provider, with side effects fully considered. Dr Al-Zubaidi emphasizes that without societal shifts towards environments that promote health rather than weight gain, the fundamental challenges remain.
The stories of Tanya and warnings from doctors paint a clear picture: while powerful new tools exist in the fight against obesity, they are not a simple fix. They represent a serious medical intervention requiring long-term management, psychological support, and a sustainable plan for life after the injection.
