Published: 2026-01-09
Updated: 2026-01-09
Rector Advisor, Vice Dean, and Faculty Member - Istanbul Kent University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Departmant of Pharmocology
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal
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"Learning to manage the appetite-suppressing effects of weight loss injections and the mental hunger known as "food noise" can help maintain weight by sustaining healthy habits in the post-medication period."
Weight Loss Injections and "Food Noise": Is Quitting Medication a Risk of Falling Off the Brink?
One of the most talked-about medical advancements in recent years, GLP-1 based weight-loss injections (Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.) have revolutionized the weight-loss struggle for thousands. However, the experiences of those who have stopped using these injections reveal the other side of the coin: a biological addiction and a psychological battle.
Is "Dining Noise" Making a Comeback?
For many users, the biggest effect of these medications is that they silence the constant urge to eat in the mind, what experts call the "food noise". However, patients who try to stop taking the medication report that this noise returns much more intensely.
- The Abyss Effect: Experts liken suddenly stopping the medication at the highest dose to being buried under an "avalanche." When the medication is withdrawn, hunger signals in the brain are rapidly reactivated.
- Weight Regain: Current data shows that those who stop taking the medication can regain 60% to 80% of the weight they lost within 1 to 3 years.
Side Effects and Social Pressure
Drug use brings not only weight loss but also a challenging process. According to user experiences, the prominent challenges include:
- Physical Effects: Severe nausea, headaches, sleep disturbances, and hair loss due to rapid weight loss.
- Psychological Aspects: Many patients, like Tanya Hall, report feeling more respected and taken seriously in society only after losing weight. This social "approval" further increases the fear of stopping the medication (combined with the fear of regaining the weight).
Exit Strategy: What is the Key to Success?
The process isn't the same for everyone. Some users, like Ellen Ogley, manage to maintain the weight they lost with medication through nutritional education, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Experts emphasize the following points:
1. Gradual Transition: Instead of abruptly stopping medication, gradually reduce the dosage under a doctor's supervision.
2. Psychological Support: Seek therapy or counseling to cope with emotional eating habits.
3. Environmental Change: View obesity not just as a hormone deficiency, but as an environmental problem.
Conclusion: Lifetime Use or a Temporary Bridge?
While weight-loss injections are a powerful tool in treating obesity, a "post-drug life plan" is essential for lasting results. With the long-term effects of the medication still not fully understood, patients face a clear dilemma: to continue living with side effects or to confront biological hunger again?
Assoc. Prof. Muhammet Emin Çam
Rector Advisor, Vice Dean, and Faculty Member - Istanbul Kent University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Departmant of Pharmocology
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal
Visiting Researcher&Lecturer - University College London, Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, UK
Visiting Lecturer - University of Aveiro, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Portugal
