I’ve reached my target weight – what now?

Have you reached your target weight? Congratulations! You may be wondering what to do next. Continue with your medication or stop? In most cases, continuing is the best option. There’s a good chance you’ll regain weight without medication.

To prevent that, you can use a maintenance dose. Another option is to taper off your medication slowly. We discuss both options in this article. Consult your healthcare provider to see which option is most suitable for you.

Medication is not a quick fix

Medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are not dietary supplements but serious medication. Yet we notice that some people treat them as a temporary aid – something you use for a while and stop as soon as you feel better.

It’s important to realise that these medicines treat your overweight but don’t cure it. If you stop abruptly without changing your lifestyle, there’s a good chance you’ll regain weight.

That’s why we recommend a maintenance dose once you’ve reached your target weight. Stay at a stable weight for at least six months while you work on healthy habits. This helps you minimise the risk of relapse if you eventually want to taper off.

Expect to use this medication for at least a year. If you manage to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can enjoy lasting weight loss after this year. Always discuss with your healthcare provider how to taper off responsibly.

What does the science say?

Using medication for weight loss is a recent development. That’s why little data is available on stopping weight-loss medication. What we do know: stopping abruptly often leads to weight regain. A 2022 study showed that people who stopped semaglutide regained on average two thirds of the weight they had lost within a year [1].

GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are powerful tools for losing weight. But when you stop the injections, the kilos often come back. This phenomenon is known as ‘Ozempic rebound’, and it applies not only to Ozempic but to the other medicines too.

Why do you regain weight?

Obesity is now recognised as a chronic condition, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. Just as stopping beta blockers can make blood pressure rise again, stopping GLP-1 medication can lead to weight regain.

The medication doesn’t cure obesity, but treats it by regulating appetite and metabolism. Once you stop, your appetite often increases again, which raises the risk of weight regain.

What is a maintenance dose?

A maintenance dose is the dose you keep taking to stay at your target weight. It is prescribed to prevent a relapse into old eating habits.

Together with your healthcare provider, you can find the right dose at which your weight stays stable and you have no or as few side effects as possible. How high this dose is varies from person to person. Every body responds differently to the medication.

The aim is to find a stable balance in which you maintain your weight and can keep using the medication in the long term.

What if you do want to stop?

It’s important not to stop your medication all at once. Gradual tapering, where you lower the dose step by step, can be a more effective strategy to prevent weight regain.

This is what a responsible weight-loss process looks like:

1. Target weight reached

2. Stay stable at this weight for at least 6 months

3. Develop healthy habits during this period

4. Taper off carefully after 6 months, only if your weight stays stable

5. Continue tapering off gradually, provided your weight stays stable

6. Stay at a healthy weight through a sustainable lifestyle

By following these steps, you increase your chances of lasting success.

Tapering off medication, building healthy habits

Research suggests that a slow tapering schedule can help you maintain the weight loss you’ve achieved. A Danish study, for example, showed that patients who gradually tapered off semaglutide maintained their weight loss for at least six months [2].

Another study indicates that a combination of gradual tapering and lifestyle changes can help prevent weight regain [3].

It’s important to realise this: to maintain a healthy weight, you’ll need to keep up a healthy lifestyle. That consists of the following six pillars:

• A healthy, natural and varied diet

• Regular exercise

• Managing stress

• Avoiding stimulants (such as alcohol and nicotine)

• Good sleep

• Strong social relationships

If you don’t develop healthy habits and, for example, often eat ultra-processed foods, takeaways and sugary products, exercise little and don’t sleep enough, there’s a good chance you’ll regain weight as soon as you stop the medication.

Why does tapering off work better than stopping abruptly?

When you stop your injections, your appetite returns. A sudden stop makes it harder to resist binge eating. Tapering off slowly, combined with healthy food and enough exercise, helps with:

• Better regulation of hunger and fullness

• Learning lasting lifestyle changes

• Supporting long-term weight maintenance

The success of a tapering strategy depends on how well you are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Discuss with your healthcare provider whether gradual tapering or a maintenance dose is the best option.

We give you six valuable tips to reduce the risk of weight regain when you lower your dose, taper off or stop medication such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.

Tip 1: Want to taper off or stop? Prepare for it

During treatment, teach yourself healthy habits that you can keep up.

The medication is a powerful tool for learning those healthy habits, partly because it curbs your appetite.

Ultimately, medicines are just one part of your weight-loss journey. For lasting weight loss, healthy habits such as a varied and wholesome diet, good sleep and enough exercise are decisive.

Tip 2: Seek help

Want to stop your medication? Always talk to your healthcare provider first, who can guide you through this process.

In addition, support from friends, family or a community can help, especially at times when you’re struggling. Also consider guidance from a nutritionist or coach if you need extra support with, for example, sticking to a healthy diet.

Tip 3: Eat healthily

A healthy, natural and varied diet helps you lose weight for good. Certain nutrients can also help you feel full for longer, which helps prevent cravings. The most important ones are proteins and fats.

It’s important to find a diet that not only helps you maintain your weight but that you can also keep up in the long term. Don’t force yourself, for example, to eat foods you don’t enjoy.

Tip 4: Get moving!

Physical activity helps you maintain your weight and contributes to your overall health and energy levels.

The standard advice is to exercise for at least 150 minutes a week (a good 20 minutes a day). But weight loss only really gets going at 300 minutes a week (for example, an hour of brisk walking 5 times a week). That’s because fat burning only really kicks in after about 30 minutes of moderately intensive exercise.

We therefore recommend at least 300 minutes of intensive exercise a week, during which your heart rate should go up a bit. So that’s more than a stroll around the block.

Find a form of exercise you enjoy, whether it’s walking, swimming, cycling or a team sport. If you enjoy your exercise, you’ll keep doing it consistently, and that’s the key to long-term success.

Tip 5: Set realistic expectations

The chance of gaining a few kilos when you stop GLP-1 medication is fairly high.

Avoid disappointment, focus on a healthy lifestyle and don’t just look at the number on the scales but also, for example, at your health and energy levels.

Tip 6: Listen to your body
Learn to recognise your body’s signals. After weight loss, your body may respond differently to food and exercise.

For example, it’s important to learn to distinguish between real hunger and other triggers such as emotional eating, boredom or thirst. Real hunger builds up gradually and is often accompanied by physical signals such as a rumbling stomach, slight dizziness or an energy dip. Cravings, on the other hand, are often triggered by external factors, such as seeing or smelling food, stress or habits. Thirst can also be mistaken for hunger. So drink a glass of water first when you feel like eating, and see whether the feeling fades.

By consciously listening to your body, you can respond better to your real needs and avoid unnecessary calorie intake.

Besides nutrition, exercise plays an important role. Pay attention to how your body responds to different forms of exercise and discover what feels best and works most effectively for you. You may notice that your energy levels improve after a brisk walk, or that strength training helps you feel stronger and fitter.

By increasing your body awareness, you can make more sustainable choices that contribute to maintaining your weight and a healthy lifestyle.

Many people experience weight regain after stopping GLP-1 medication, because the appetite-suppressing effects disappear. This can lead to increased calorie intake and a relapse into old eating habits.

To prevent this, there are strategies that can help, such as gradually tapering off the medication and sticking to a healthy lifestyle with wholesome food and enough exercise. Still, experts stress that the most effective way to maintain weight loss in the long term is usually to keep using the medication long-term.

‍Do you have questions about weight-loss medication or how to stay at your target weight?Get in touch with us, no strings attached, we’re happy to help.

Do I have to keep using Wegovy or Mounjaro forever to maintain my weight?

Long-term use is recommended, but whether this applies to you depends on your personal situation.

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Can I stop Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro after reaching my goal?

Yes, you can, but there’s a real chance you’ll regain weight. So always discuss it with your healthcare provider if you want to stop your medication. They may recommend a maintenance dose or a tapering plan.

Can I maintain my weight without Wegovy or Mounjaro?

Yes, with a healthy lifestyle it’s certainly possible to maintain your target weight.

Although some people regain weight after stopping, those who keep up healthy habits prove to have more long-term success with weight maintenance.

What happens if I stop Wegovy or Mounjaro before reaching my goal?

If you stop early, there’s a risk you’ll regain weight.

Although this doesn’t apply to everyone, the chance of weight regain is considerably higher without a healthy lifestyle.

Can I restart Wegovy or Mounjaro after stopping?

Yes, you can restart your weight-loss medication.

You will, however, start again at the lowest dose, to minimise side effects and let your body get used to the medicine again.

Do I have to stop the medication as soon as I’ve reached my target weight?

Weight-loss medication is effective as long as you keep using it.

When you stop, your appetite and metabolism largely return to their original state, which can cause weight regain. Talk to your doctor about a sustainable long-term plan.

Can I maintain my weight without medication?

Yes, but this requires a structural change in your lifestyle. Healthy eating, enough exercise and behavioural change are essential. Your healthcare provider can help you with a tapering schedule or advise you on alternative options.

How likely am I to regain weight after stopping?

Research shows that many people regain part of the weight they lost once they stop. How much varies from person to person and depends on factors such as eating habits, exercise and genetic predisposition.

Can I use a lower maintenance dose?

Yes, in many cases a lower maintenance dose is enough to keep your weight stable. The optimal dose varies from person to person and depends on factors such as your metabolism, appetite and lifestyle. Talk to your doctor to determine which dose works best for you.

What if I regain weight?

Weight fluctuations are normal. If you notice you’re consistently gaining weight, talk to your doctor. Restarting medication may be an option, but lifestyle changes can also help.

Can I keep using the medication without diabetes?

Yes, some weight-loss medications are approved for long-term use in people without diabetes. Medical supervision is important, however, because of possible side effects and health risks.

How do I keep up my healthy habits?

Choose habits that suit you and are sustainable. Think of a balanced diet, exercise you enjoy and strategies to recognise and avoid emotional eating or other pitfalls.