Developed in collaboration with Dr Rob Kelly, Dr Vanessa Stedman, and Victoria Biddick.

Medicines like Wegovy and Ozempic, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, are now also used to help with weight loss in people with a higher BMI or weight-related health problems. They work by reducing appetite and improving blood sugar control but should only be prescribed after a proper medical assessment and discussion of the benefits, possible side effects, and costs.  

Common side effects include feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation, and in rare cases more serious problems such as inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder.

These medicines work best when combined with healthy eating and regular activity and stopping them often leads to weight regain if other changes aren’t in place. Even if your appetite is smaller, it’s important to eat enough protein to protect your muscles, and to include plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and healthy fats, as well as staying well hydrated.

Research consistently shows that individuals who lose weight gradually through sustainable lifestyle changes are more likely to maintain their weight loss (8). This is where the expertise of a registered dietitian or nutritionist becomes essential to optimise nutrient intake , prevent deficiencies , preserve muscle mass , support gut health , and manage side effects.

As a non-diet practitioner , I also focus on the why and how of eating not just the what. We don’t eat solely in response to hunger . While weight is often framed as a matter of personal responsibility, this perspective overlooks the external forces that shape our food choices . Our current food environment is designed in ways that promote weight gain (9). It encourages the consumption of inexpensive, energy-dense, highly processed foods that are widely available , aggressively marketed , and often more accessible than healthier options . These systemic factors make it difficult for many people to make nourishing choices , regardless of their intentions or willpower (8).

When GLP-1 medications are discontinued , appetite typically returns . If we haven’t addressed the underlying eating behaviours that contributed to weight gain—such as emotional eating , habitual patterns , or environmental triggers —it’s likely that we’ll revert to those same behaviours, leading to weight regain (5,6).

“I’m not judging anyone taking GLP-1 drugs but encouraging them to get a good support network around them, so they make sustainable changes that last beyond the medication.”