A pharmacist has revealed what can happen if you’re taking weight loss medication over Christmas.
Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are increasingly popular GLP-1 agonists, which have seen positive results in many users who wanted to lose weight, and fast.
The medications work by reducing your appetite by targeting the part of your brain that controls your hunger.
While Ozempic is actually a Type-2 diabetes treatment that isn’t approved for weight loss, people have still been using it for that purpose, as well as the other medications above - which are approved by the NHS for weight loss.
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People who take the jabs tend to consume less food and shed the pounds quicker as a result.
But with around 1.5 million people in the UK taking some form of weight loss medication, Christmas dinner is bound to look a little different.
According to Aaron Arman, Superintendent Pharmacist at CheqUp, it could prove to be risky for some who think they can just stop their dose during the holidays so they can enjoy as much food as they want and treat themselves.
To the expert, this can lead to some unintended negative effects.
He said, per the Daily Mail: “Unless there is a clear clinical reason, we advise against stopping GLP-1 treatment abruptly, as doing so can lead to rebound high blood sugar and rapid weight regain.”
Because people typically eat more carbohydrates and sugars around Christmas, it means that stopping the GLP-1 injection suddenly can cause an even bigger sugar spike.
He revealed that ‘stopping them removes these protective effects and can undermine long-treatment goals.’
This comes after CheqUp shared that over a third of users are planning to reduce their dose over Christmas before resuming after the New Year.
Ten percent of those polled said they planned to stop their treatments completely so they can enjoy the festivities.
But this can make the side effects come back worse as you’re essentially restarting the treatment.
He said: “Patients who pause their medication may also experience stronger side effects when restarting, as the body loses its built-up tolerance.
“Anyone considering changes to their medication over the holidays should speak up with their prescribing clinician first.”
They should also be strict with how they plate up, as eating too many carbs or sugar can spike glucose, cause bloating and nausea in some users, per experts.
Obviously, have fun and enjoy yourself, but be mindful of the limitations you have to follow if you want to make sure you’re continuing to maintain your routine.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer for Ozempic and Wegovy told Tyla: "We recommend patients take these medications for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Treatment decisions should be made together with a healthcare provider who can evaluate the appropriateness of using a GLP-1 based on assessment of a patient’s individual medical profile."
Topics: Ozempic, Mounjaro, Food and Drink, Christmas, Health
Britt Jones