How to keep off the pounds after stopping weight-loss jabs

Normally, the dose is gradually increased as patients get used to the treatment.

But the study of 2,246 Danes, with an average starting weight of just over 15 stone (210 lbs), closely monitored the doses which patients were put on, only increasing it if slimmers had stopped making progress.

At 64 weeks, average weight loss was 15 per cent – more than two stone (28 lbs) – despite the fact dieters were only on around one third of the standard dose.

The lower doses also reduced the risk of the side effects, such as diarrhoea and vomiting, which are associated with the drugs.

Weight loss continued as the dose was being tapered down over an average of nine weeks, with an average loss of 2.1 per cent over the period.

And even when the jabs were stopped entirely, weight remained stable for the next 26 weeks for the majority of those tracked.

Encouraging findings

Researchers said the findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, were a “really encouraging” breakthough and could ensure that sought-after stocks of jabs go further.

Lead researcher Dr Henrik Gudbergsen said: “This was really encouraging to see in this global fight against obesity. We used to think these drugs are forever or you put all the weight back on. Now we know that’s too simplistic.”

The study was by Embla, a digital weight loss clinic, which enrolled 2,246 members with an average body mass index (BMI) of 33.2.

Dr Gudbergsen, Embla’s chief medical officer, said: “The dose really doesn’t matter at all. They lose the same amount of weight regardless.

“That is really important in that we can achieve a personalised dose and help minimise side effects and lifelong drug dependency, which is what patients are interested in.”

In the trial, some 353 patients were helped to gradually reduce their semaglutide dose over nine weeks after they had reached their target weight. During this period they lost an extra 2.1 per cent of body weight.

In total, 240 participants decided to taper down the dose and then stop altogether.

Of these, 85 participants provided data six months later showing they had maintained a stable weight, even dipping slightly, with another 1.5 per cent of weight lost.

A further 46 restarted semaglutide after stopping because they noticed small weight gain.

Celebrity injections 

The jabs have been popularised by a host of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson.