Eating on treatment
- Eat smaller meals, slowly, and stop at the first sign of fullness
- Include protein at every meal: dal, paneer, curd, eggs, fish, chicken or soya
- Fill up on vegetables and include whole grains in modest portions
- Drink water through the day; thirst can be dulled along with hunger
- Limit fried foods, sweets and alcohol, which often worsen nausea
Protecting muscle
Weight lost quickly can include muscle. Regular strength exercise two to three times a week, such as resistance bands, bodyweight exercises or weights, along with enough protein, helps keep muscle and strength.
Missed doses
Follow the instructions in your medicine’s leaflet, as the rules differ between medicines. If you have missed more than a couple of weeks, do not restart at your previous dose without advice; you may need to start lower to avoid side effects.
What happens when treatment stops?
Appetite usually returns, and much of the lost weight tends to come back. In one large study, people regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping. Blood sugar and blood pressure benefits can fade too.
For this reason, obesity is treated as a long-term condition. Some people stay on treatment long term; others reduce the dose gradually while strengthening food, activity and sleep habits. This is a decision to make with your doctor.
Follow-up
Regular reviews check your weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, side effects and muscle strength, and adjust the dose. If you have diabetes, your other diabetes medicines may also need changing as you improve.
This guide is general information and is not a substitute for a consultation. These are prescription medicines; start, change or stop them only with your doctor.