Podcast Summary: What happens when you stop weight loss jabs?
Today in Focus – September 22, 2025
Host: Helen Pidd
Guests: Amy Young (Career Coach), Ian Sample (The Guardian’s Science Editor)
Overview
This episode explores the growing trend of weight loss injections (GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy), focusing on what happens when people have to stop using them. Career coach Amy Young shares her personal journey—from weight gain and the decision to start Mounjaro, to her sudden need to quit due to a price hike. The episode balances Amy’s honest testimony with scientific context from Ian Sample, examining both the physiological and psychological impacts of stopping these medications, and the broader implications for public health.
Key Discussion Points
1. Amy’s Weight Loss Story and Motivation
- Body Image & Health Triggers:
- Amy describes herself as "obnoxiously body confident" but noticed health issues (creaky knees, burnout) as her weight increased ([01:08-01:43]).
- Decision to change stemmed from unflattering holiday photos and increased physical discomfort ([01:54-01:54]).
- Starting Weight Loss Injections:
- At her heaviest: 18 stone 9 lbs (119 kg / 263 lbs) at 5'10"—clinically obese ([02:06-02:26]).
- Saw social media ads for weight loss jabs, prompting her to try Mounjaro, prescribed privately at £99/month ([02:26-02:46]).
- Lost 3.5 stone (50 lbs / 23 kg) in 8 months ([02:46], [06:50]).
2. Experience on GLP-1s (Mounjaro)
- Physical & Psychological Effects:
- Notable side effects: “really sick, really headachy” for two days post-injection ([04:15-04:38]).
- Suppressed hunger cues—Amy describes a “food noise” that “just doesn’t occur” on the drug ([06:24]).
- Eating habits changed: skipped breakfast, ate light lunches, and healthy dinners; sometimes survived on just soup the day after jabs ([05:51-06:20]).
- “You just do not have hunger cues—it’s an alien concept” ([06:24], Amy Young).
- Reduced desire for alcohol; no longer drinks at home on Friday nights ([05:05]).
- Positive body changes: visible slimming, improved mobility, “creaky knees” resolved, actively training for a physical challenge ([07:11-07:15]).
3. Ending Medication – The Psychological Fallout
- Sudden Price Hike:
- Eli Lilly increased Mounjaro prices from £99 to £279–£310/month for private patients ([07:50], [08:06]).
- Forced to make a choice between more expensive Mounjaro, switching to Wegovy, or stopping altogether ([03:13], [08:13]).
- Received only three days’ notice; “almost been abandoned and left” ([08:21], [08:27]).
- No Guidance or Support:
- No tapering advice or psychological support provided when stopping the drug ([08:27-08:58]).
- Amy turned to online communities and YouTube for help, realizing many others face the same uncertainty ([09:10]).
- “We jumped on this bandwagon ... what we’re not talking about is what happens when you come off” ([09:42], Amy Young).
- Psychological Adjustment:
- Resumed cravings post-drug; need to “wake up every day now and choose” her behavior ([11:16]).
- “When you’re on GLP-1s, you’re on autopilot; when you’re not ... you’re flying the plane manually” ([11:16], Amy Young).
- Fears of entering a “crisis of confidence” as people must re-educate themselves about nutrition and habits ([10:53]).
4. Scientific Context – How GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Work
- Development and Function:
- Originally designed for type 2 diabetes; these drugs mimic the hormone GLP-1 to stimulate insulin release and suppress appetite ([13:25], [14:22]).
- Effectiveness:
- Clinical trials show users can lose about 20% of their body weight over 72 weeks ([14:40]).
- Also associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other obesity-linked illnesses ([15:40]).
- Barriers to Access:
- Most users access privately due to slow NHS rollout and strict eligibility ([12:47], [16:48]).
- NHS costs for Mounjaro stable due to negotiated rates, but provision remains a “postcode lottery” ([16:42], [16:48]).
5. The Science of Stopping GLP-1s
- Weight Regain Is Common:
- “The vast majority ... put weight back on, all of it” ([17:54], Ian Sample).
- Studies show almost all weight can be regained within 10 months after stopping injections ([17:54]).
- Appetite and cravings return, making it difficult to maintain weight loss without continued medication ([19:02]).
- New Guidance and Best Practices:
- NICE recently advised monitoring and support for at least a year after stopping GLP-1s ([19:05]).
- Tapering off gradually recommended (2-3 months), but most haven’t received such support ([20:02]).
- Biological “Set Point”:
- Genetic and evolutionary pressures may prime us to regain lost weight after periods of calorie restriction ([20:12-20:52]).
- “If you then ... go into a state of chemical fasting, when you come off them, your body’s rubbing its hands ... calories, bring it back on” ([20:52], Ian Sample).
6. What’s Next for GLP-1s and Societal Impact
- Ongoing Research:
- Hundreds of clinical trials are underway, mostly expanding use (heart disease, Alzheimer’s, addiction) or developing new delivery forms (oral, monthly) ([21:53]).
- Wider Implications:
- Drugs seen as “the best hope” for many, but not a complete answer to the obesity crisis ([23:00], Ian Sample).
- Concern that health policy may wrongly rely on pharmaceuticals at the expense of promoting healthy environments ([23:00]).
7. Amy’s Adjustment Off the Drug
- Weight Maintenance:
- In 3 weeks after stopping, initially gained 2 lbs, then adjusted calories to avoid gaining more, emphasizing flexibility and self-forgiveness ([26:04]).
- Advice and Worries:
- Amy expresses real concern about lack of support for those forced off the medication unexpectedly, predicting a “psychological crisis” ([26:54]).
- Stresses need for better education and community support during and after the GLP-1 journey ([26:54]).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On discovering hunger cues disappear:
“You just do not have hunger cues—just doesn’t occur.”
— Amy Young ([06:24]) -
On the lack of support when stopping:
“A lot of people have found that they’ve almost been abandoned and left ... you’re really left on your own.”
— Amy Young ([08:27]) -
On the challenge after stopping:
“When you’re on GLP-1s, you’re on autopilot, and then when you’re not on it anymore, you’re flying the plane manually.”
— Amy Young ([11:16]) -
On the reality of weight regain:
“The vast majority of patients who come off these drugs put weight back on, all of it.”
— Ian Sample ([17:54]) -
On health system gaps:
“We haven’t spent enough time learning what happens ... when you come off and how you really support yourself throughout the journey.”
— Amy Young ([26:54])
Important Timestamps
- [01:08] – Amy describes her history of body confidence
- [02:06] – Amy at her heaviest, deciding to try weight loss injections
- [04:15] – Description of Mounjaro’s side effects
- [05:05-06:24] – Eating behavior changes on the drug
- [08:13-09:10] – Forced to stop due to price, absence of support
- [10:53-11:16] – Amy’s fears for others, learning to “fly the plane manually”
- [12:47-14:22] – Ian Sample on who’s taking GLP-1s and how they work
- [14:40-15:40] – Clinical trial results and broader health impacts
- [17:54] – Evidence on regaining weight after stopping
- [19:05] – NICE recommendations for supporting people after GLP-1s
- [20:52] – The biological drive to regain weight
- [23:00-23:43] – Discussion on GLP-1s as a tool, but not a “solution”
- [26:04] – Amy describes her strategy coming off the drug and initial weight changes
- [26:54] – Amy warns of a looming psychological crisis for many users
Tone & Takeaway
The conversation is thoughtful, candid, and empathetic, balancing personal testimonial with evidence-based analysis. Both Amy and the Guardian team highlight the hopes, challenges, and sometimes harsh realities around weight loss drugs, especially for those with limited support or facing sudden price-driven discontinuation.
Key Takeaway:
GLP-1 weight loss drugs can be transformative but aren’t a cure-all. Coming off them, especially suddenly, presents significant challenges—biological, psychological, and practical—with limited support infrastructure currently available. The episode urges more public conversation, research, and support for people navigating the end of their GLP-1 journey.