Side effects of obesity injections: Weight returns when stopped

It may seem easy to change your life with an injection. But no change is limited to weight loss. Obesity injection treatments have become an industry that is still silent about their side effects. This silence is covered up with “light-speed weight loss” videos on social media. In reality, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss and social isolation are common experiences for most users. There are hundreds of thousands of posts on TikTok and Instagram with the #ozempicbody hashtag. Slim bodies, “before-after” videos, miraculous stories like losing 20 kilos in 3 months... But no one says this: - Vomiting spells - Muscle loss - Mental exhaustion

- Disgust towards food

@fitnessplusgirl, TikTok comment: “I showed off my slim figure on camera but I couldn’t eat anything that day because of my stomach.”

The truth about muscle loss

The drugs not only reduce fat but also muscle tissue. Studies show that an average of 25% of the total loss is muscle. This results in the following: The weakened body takes on a weak structure. Results such as sagging, fatigue, and inability to climb stairs are encountered.

45-year-old male user, Istanbul: “I lost 12 kilos in 3 months, but I can't lift weights in the gym anymore. My strength is gone.”

@ozempicgirl, TikTok post, March 2024: “I look like a cadaver, my legs are weak. I am thin but I have no energy left.”

Hair loss and loss of taste

Some of the unexplained side effects: - Hair loss: Due to rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies - Loss of taste or metallic taste in the mouth: Explained by the effect of GLP-1/GIP receptors on nerve endings.

- Psychological suppression of the motivation to eat, erasing social pleasure.

The most common side effects

The most common complaints in clinical studies and user feedback are: - Nausea (40%) - Vomiting (20–25%) - Constipation (15–20%) - Dizziness, weakness - Loss of taste and dry mouth - Food aversion 39-year-old male user, New York: (Source: Reddit / ObesityRx) "For the first 10 days, my stomach would rise to my mouth when I woke up in the morning." 31-year-old female user, Paris: (Source: Guardian Health Forum) "I was unable to function from constant vomiting, but I lost 20 pounds. I'm not sure it was worth it."

Female user, 44, London: “I lost weight but I was constantly dizzy. I fainted once. I have now gained back 4 kilos but I feel better.”

Brand: Saxenda Company: Novo Nordisk Active Ingredient: Liraglutide Pros: Daily injection, old and familiar molecule

Cons: Low efficacy (6–8%), nausea very common

Brand: WegovyCompany: Novo NordiskActive Ingredient: SemaglutidePros: Up to 15% weight loss, weekly dose, FDA approved.

Cons: Commonly used for aesthetic purposes, side effects are evident.

Brand: Zepbound Company: Eli Lilly Active Ingredient: Tirzepatid Pros: Mounjaro's obesity version, up to 22% effect

Cons: Price is too high, extreme appetite suppression, risk of social isolation

Psychological effects

Some users report not only physical but also neuropsychological changes: - Loss of emotional connection with food - Increased anxiety and depressive moods - Withdrawal from social life, avoiding food-based environments - Decreased sexual desire (especially in female patients) 37-year-old female user, Sidney: "It's like not only my body but also my mind has shrunk. The joy of life has also disappeared along with the appetite."

43-year-old male user, Berlin: “It’s not the scary thing about not eating something, it’s the scary thing about not wanting it anymore.”

What happens when you stop taking the medication?

This is one of the least talked about but most important topics. Clinical data and observations show that: - 65-70% of users who stop taking the drug regain the weight they lost within 6-12 months. - Reason: The metabolism develops a "defense response" against sudden weight loss. - The body "recalls" old fat cells.

- Hunger begins again, but this time the psychological control over eating is weaker.

According to Set Point Theory:

The brain accepts the weight range that the body is accustomed to as the "ideal balance". When the weight drops rapidly, the body perceives this situation as a threat: - The hunger hormone ghrelin increases - Metabolism slows down - Calorie expenditure decreases

- The brain accelerates fat storage 40-year-old female user, Ankara: “The weight is back but this time more aggressive. My hunger also seems to have exploded.”

Other needles on the market

Saxenda: The classic way with one injection per day

One of the first obesity injections. Its active ingredient is liraglutide. It requires daily application. Its effect is limited to 6-8%, but it is still an option that is prescribed and found safe in some patients. It works through a single GLP-1 receptor.

Wegovy: The star of TikTok

Contains the raw material semaglutide but in a higher dose than Ozempic. Weekly injection. Can reduce weight by up to 15%. Side effects are similar to Ozempic, but can be experienced more intensely.

Zepbound: The most powerful yet the quietest

Contains tirzepatide. Same molecule as Mounjaro but specially approved for obesity. One of the most effective injections. Provides up to 22% weight loss. However, careful use is recommended due to problems such as loss of taste, social isolation, and loss of appetite.

Tomorrow:

What is NAD therapy and what does it have to do with these injections?