People who stop GLP-1 drugs without changing diet and exercise risk rapid weight gain as appetite returns and muscle mass is lost<\/p>\n
A Birmingham nutritionist says rapid weight regain after weight-loss injections is something she expected to see \u2014 and says it\u2019s linked to muscle loss and a lack of lifestyle change while on the medication.<\/p>\n
Sarah Hanratty says research now backing this up isn\u2019t surprising, particularly for people who stop the injections without changing how they eat or exercise. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we did expect it,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not surprising that the research is showing that around two-thirds of the weight loss can be regained within 12 to 18 months of stopping if you haven\u2019t changed your diet and lifestyle within that time.\u201d <\/p>\n
She explains that quick weight loss often leads to a loss of lean muscle mass, which plays a key role in keeping the metabolism working efficiently. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you lose weight quickly, you lose a lot of lean muscle mass \u2014 and that\u2019s metabolically active tissue,\u201d she said. \u201cSo when you lose that, it lowers your resting metabolic rate, which means your body\u2019s ready to gain weight once appetite and food noise comes back.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hanratty says protecting muscle mass should begin while people are still taking the injections, not just after they stop. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt really needs to start before transitioning off the injections \u2014 preferably during the entire time that you\u2019re on them,\u201d she said. \u201cYou need to protect your muscle mass. So that involves exercise, but also a protein-dense and nutrient-rich diet.\u201d <\/p>\n
She says those changes help regulate appetite and blood sugar, making weight maintenance easier once medication ends. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have that in place, when you transition off the injections, you\u2019ll find keeping the weight off much easier,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Hanratty says she\u2019s worked with clients who\u2019ve seen significant changes once they come off GLP-1 injections, particularly when appetite returns. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen food noise returns and appetite increases, it can be hard to keep the weight at the same level,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
She adds that long-term success depends less on the medication itself, and more on whether people rebuild their metabolic health. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be the biggest predictor as to whether or not they\u2019re able to keep the weight off over the longer term,\u201d she said. \u201cWe work on actively rebuilding metabolic health and improving diet quality to help people maintain the losses they\u2019ve had on their GLP-1 injections.\u201d<\/p>\n