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Good morning. If you are as chronically online as I am, you have probably noticed a major shift by some of your favourite celebrities and influencers: many suddenly look much thinner.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon (one assumes) is due to weight loss drugs, which have transformed how obesity is tackled across much of the western world. Brands including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have become household names in a short period of time.<\/p>\n
These drugs \u2013 developed for chronic diseases like diabetes \u2013 do more than help people lose weight; they can also significantly improve heart health. But while National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines recommend a maximum two-year usage, the scientific consensus suggests that those who stop taking the drug are likely to regain most, if not all, of the weight they lost.<\/p>\n
A new study shows that once people stop, they not only gain the weight back, but their heart health and metabolism markers, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, get worse again.<\/p>\n
So, what are the implications of this for the fight against obesity and the wider public health landscape? To explore this and more, I speak to Tobi Thomas<\/strong><\/em>, the Guardian\u2019s health and inequality correspondent. That\u2019s after the headlines.<\/p>\n Venezuela <\/strong><\/em>| Britain\u2019s Ministry of Defence said it had provided military help to the US forces that seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of Britain and Ireland, initially arguing the operation was legal because the vessel had breached US sanctions on Iran.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ukraine<\/strong><\/em> | Keir Starmer has said that MPs would have a debate and vote before any UK troops were deployed on peacekeeping duties in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n NHS<\/strong><\/em> | Patients are collapsing in hospitals unseen by staff because overcrowding means they are stranded out of sight on corridors, the NHS\u2019s safety watchdog has revealed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Greenland<\/strong><\/em> | France has said it is working with allies on how to react if the US were to invade Greenland, as the French, German and Polish foreign ministers met.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Elon Musk<\/strong><\/em> | The influential Commons women and equalities committee will stop using X after the social media site\u2019s AI tool generated thousands of digitally altered undressed images of women and children.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/span>People are cautioned against using weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic long-term.<\/span> Photograph: Alones Creative\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Obesity has evolved into one of the UK\u2019s most challenging public and economic challenges. More than a quarter of adults and almost a quarter of children are affected by obesity, and these figures are predicted to worsen. (It\u2019s worth reading my colleague Martin\u2019s First Edition this week on the government\u2019s attempts to tackle advertising from fast food giants). As is often the case, those living in deprived areas are worse affected.<\/p>\n The new use for these drugs offer the promise of low-effort weight loss, tackling an obesity crisis reported to cost the UK economy \u00a3126bn a year.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have already transformed how obesity is treated,\u201d Tobi Thomas tells me. \u201cBeing overweight was often framed as a failure of willpower, but diets and exercise plans produced very mixed results. What\u2019s striking about GLP-1 inhibitors [the proper name for drugs like Ozempic] is how consistent the outcomes are across people. If someone takes them as prescribed, weight loss tends to be fairly predictable.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s shifted the conversation away from personal blame and towards biology and bodily processes. \u201cBut they are not a miracle cure,\u201d Tobi says. For one thing, significant numbers of people report side effects, from the mild (\u201cOzempic burps\u201d ), to the weird and the worrying. Perhaps most importantly, she says, is that while \u201cpeople can lose a significant amount of weight while taking the drug, most people who stop will go on to put on most of the weight they had lost\u201d.<\/p>\n A new study, which Tobi reported on, is the first to show the rate of weight regained and the estimated time frames for the benefits provided by the drug to reverse.<\/p>\n How do they work?<\/strong><\/p>\n Before we delve into the latest study on weight loss jabs, I ask Tobi to remind me what they are and how they work. They are GLP-1 medications or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. \u201cThey\u2019re a class of drugs developed to manage type 2 diabetes, but they\u2019re now widely used for weight loss,\u201d she says, explaining that our bodies produce naturally GLP-1 naturally. \u201cYour gut releases it after you eat, and it helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. These medications mimic that hormone and keep it active in the body for longer.\u201d<\/p>\n They work by reducing appetite, which means you feel full for longer, and they help regulate blood sugar by increasing the release of insulin. Tobi also points to recent studies that suggest that GLP-1s may also affect the types of foods people want to eat, reducing cravings for high-sugar or high-fat foods.<\/p>\n The benefits are remarkable: patients are able to lose weight more consistently, while also seeing improved benefits on heart and metabolic health markers, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n But they come with side effects. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloating, and heartburn are common in the first couple of months. \u201cBecause appetite is suppressed,\u201d she tells me, \u201csome people forget to eat, which can lead to fatigue, dizziness, dehydration, and low energy.\u201d<\/p>\n Rapid weight loss can also contribute to hair loss, low iron, and fatigue, not directly because of the drug but because of reduced food intake, she explains.<\/p>\n Tobi has also highlighted concerns around contraception. The UK\u2019s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued guidance after reports of women on oral contraceptives becoming pregnant while taking GLP-1 drugs. Tirzepatide, in particular, has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of the pill. Weight loss itself can also increase fertility, so pregnancy risk may rise unexpectedly.<\/p>\n What happens <\/strong>after you stop taking them?<\/strong><\/p>\n People can stop taking weight loss drugs without tapering, Tobi says. But once you stop, the effects can reverse quite quickly. \u201cAppetite returns to baseline, hunger signals resume, portion sizes increase, and cravings may come back,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n The latest study showed that, on average, patients gained 0.4kg a month after they stopped treatment. Weight and risk markers for diabetes and heart disease were also found to return to pre-treatment levels in less than two years.<\/p>\n The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Oxford who searched databases for trials and observational studies that compared the effects of weight loss drugs with diet and exercise programmess, as well as with a placebo. They found that the rate of weight regained after stopping the drugs is almost four times faster than after diet and physical activity changes. This was irrespective of the amount of weight lost during treatment.<\/p>\n The study also cited estimates that around half of people with obesity stop using weight loss drugs within 12 months. The reasons why are not clear, but costs of the drug, which skyrocketed in recent months, and the side-effects, are likely factors, Tobi tells me.<\/p>\n How should they be taken?<\/strong><\/p>\n When someone quickly loses a significant amount of weight, the sudden change in their physical appearance gets attention. But the latest study shows that obesity is a complex issue that requires a long-term, holistic approach. \u201cGLP-1s are not something you can just prescribe and walk away from,\u201d Tobi says. \u201cThey\u2019re a very physical intervention, and your body goes through quite an extreme change, so there needs to be proper support alongside them.\u201d<\/p>\n She continues: \u201cIn a lot of NHS and private programmes, people also receive psychological support, group sessions, therapy, and nutritional guidance. That is crucial, because obesity isn\u2019t just a physical condition. It affects how people think about food, their bodies and themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n This key point can be lost, she notes, when people exclusively focus on the physical effects of weight loss drugs, and ignore a person\u2019s overall health. \u201cIf someone\u2019s diet was poor before, GLP-1s might just mean they eat smaller portions of the same foods. Without support, that doesn\u2019t lead to long-term change. The drug works best as part of a holistic programme that addresses eating habits, movement and psychological wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n Current Nice guidelines suggest patients should be on these drugs for a maximum of two years, which seems contradictory with the latest research. Tobi explains that the health regulatory always operates with an abundance of caution. \u201cLong-term data is still emerging. The guidance doesn\u2019t mean people must stop after two years, but it reflects uncertainty [about long-term effects].\u201d<\/p>\n The study does add to the chorus of evidence that suggests these drugs may require long-term use. \u201cThere are links to gallstones, and concerns about muscle and bone-density loss if people lose weight rapidly without strength training. That\u2019s why these drugs are meant to be part of a structured weight-loss programme, not taken in isolation.\u201d<\/p>\n For those suffering health problems due to their weight, the benefits are often thought to be worth the risks. But the private market brings additional concerns. While there is a strict criteria on who qualifies for the drug under the NHS, people can access them privately \u2013 including through online pharmacies and social media links, and there are serious health risks to people who end up using counterfeit drugs. \u201cYou can have someone who is already healthy using them purely for aesthetic reasons \u2013 for example, someone who might be a size 14 wanting to be a size 8,\u201d Tobi says.<\/p>\n \u201cThis shifts the purpose of the drug away from health and towards appearance. When that happens, you\u2019re no longer treating a medical condition, you\u2019re responding to cultural pressure to be thinner.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s part of a wider shift in beauty standards, she explains: \u201cAfter years of body positivity, we\u2019re seeing a move back towards extreme thinness, particularly online. When celebrities and public figures talk openly about using these drugs, it can make thinness feel like the default or even an expectation again.\u201d<\/p>\n There is, therefore, a risk that GLP-1s stop being seen as a serious medical intervention and start being treated like a cosmetic shortcut, she adds. \u201cThat\u2019s a slippery slope, because women\u2019s bodies in particular end up being treated as trends, rather than something tied to long-term health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Morgan Ofori uses oxygen therapy to treat his excruciating cluster headaches.<\/span> Photograph: Ethan Parker\/The Guardian<\/p>\n This feature on cluster headaches <\/strong>by Morgan Ofori (pictured above) is a powerful and affecting read that brings this recurring and debilitating experience with the condition to life. Aamna<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Miss Rosen has a nostalgic look back for Huck magazine at the 1980s Rockers Reunion Club, a revival of the 1950s motorbike scene<\/strong>, lovingly photographed by Phil Polgaze. Martin<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n A macabre sideshow to the Trump intervention in Venezuela<\/strong> has been the suggestion that gambling markets were manipulated beforehand \u2013 one online platform is refusing to pay up. Martin Belam, newsletters team<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Simon Hattenstone and his partner, Diane Taylor, were the fourth heterosexual couple to enter a civil partnership<\/strong> in Haringey. He writes movingly about why they chose to do so after more than 30 years together, and why the photograph taken at the ceremony is the one he treasures most. Aamna<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n It is 10 years since David Bowie died, and 40 years since he starred in Jim Henson\u2019s Labyrinth<\/strong>. Peter Bradshaw reviews its return to the big screen, calling it \u201ccharmingly eccentric\u201d. I\u2019m going on Friday. Martin<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/span>Simon Yates celebrates his 2025 Giro triumph \u2013 \u2018a huge moment in my career\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Football <\/strong><\/em>| Darren Fletcher failed to produce what Manchester United\u2019s interim manager, fans and chief executive craved: a cathartic victory to move the club on quickly from the recent turbulence.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cricket <\/strong><\/em>| There were a couple of wobbles along the way but at 2.30pm on the final day in Sydney, Australia had knocked off a target of 160 runs to win the fifth Test by five wickets and claim this Ashes series by a 4-1 scoreline.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cycling<\/strong><\/em> | Simon Yates, one of Britain\u2019s most storied riders and the winner of last year\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia, has stunned cycling by announcing his retirement at 33.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/span>Guardian front page 8 January<\/span> Photograph: Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cUS seizes Russian-flagged tanker in high-stakes Atlantic operation,\u201d is the splash on the Guardian<\/strong> on Thursday. \u201cUK joins in the pursuit of Putin\u2019s shadow fleet,\u201d says the Times<\/strong>, while the FT<\/strong> runs with: \u201cUS seizes tanker and aims to control Venezuelan crude sales \u2018indefinitely.\u2019\u201d \u201cSplash & grab,\u201d is the lead at the Metro<\/strong>. \u201cUK ready to seize more of Putin\u2019s shadow ships, as \u2018grey war\u2019 grows,\u201d says the i<\/strong> paper.<\/p>\n \u201cBadenoch blueprint to save our pubs,\u201d is the main story at the Telegraph<\/strong>. At the Mail<\/strong> it\u2019s: \u201cYOU NEED TO BE ON FAT JABS FOR LIFE.\u201d \u201c\u2018SMA\u2019 heel-prick campaign,\u201d says the Mirror<\/strong>, while the Express<\/strong> has \u201cDon\u2019t run down clock on \u2018safe\u2019 right to die law.\u201d Finally the Sun<\/strong> with: \u201cLook who\u2019s Huw.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Supporters of Chavismo demonstrate during a march in support of the start of the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, 05 January 2026. <\/span> Photograph: Ronald Pena R\/EPA<\/p>\n On the ground in Venezuela after Trump\u2019s \u2018operation\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Tom Phillips, the Guardian\u2019s Latin America correspondent,<\/strong> describes the apprehension and mixed feelings among Venezuelans crossing the border with Colombia. He outlines the mistrust and fragility within the new leadership, the disappointment of the opposition movement, and how considerations regarding the country\u2019s oil reserves may have shaped the US\u2019s political calculations.<\/p>\n <\/span>Nicola Jennings Opinion cartoon Greenland Trump<\/span> Illustration: Nicola Jennings\/The Guardian<\/p>\n A bit of good news to remind you that the world\u2019s not all bad<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Cystic fibrosis patient Kayla Krumrey with the Trikafta she takes to treat her condition.<\/span> Photograph: St Louis Post-Dispatch\/TNS\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Tens of thousands of families around the world have long been priced out of modern cystic fibrosis treatments, but after years of campaigning a dramatic breakthrough has been made. A low-cost generic version of the drug Trikafta will be produced in Bangladesh at a fraction of the price charged by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were sitting with our calculator saying \u2018we can afford that!\u2019\u201d said one parent. Until recently, most sufferers would die as young adults. Campaigner Gayle Pledger, whose daughter has cystic fibrosis, said families had \u201cwatched children suffer and die while a treatment sat on the shelf\u201d, but added: \u201cI\u2019ve come off calls in tears thinking, \u2018This is actually going to happen.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n And finally, the Guardian\u2019s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Good morning. If you are as chronically online as I am, you have probably noticed a major shift by some of your favourite celebrities and influencers: many suddenly look much thinner. This phenomenon (one assumes) is due to weight loss drugs, which have transformed how obesity is tackled across much of the western world. Brands<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[1043,2974,2076,1475,21933,933,16730,17866,5600],"class_list":{"0":"post-40907","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-briefing","9":"tag-concerns","10":"tag-fix","11":"tag-jabs","12":"tag-longterm","13":"tag-obesity","14":"tag-shortterm","15":"tag-skinny","16":"tag-thursday"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Five big stories<\/h2>\n
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In depth: \u2018<\/strong>Obesity was often framed as a failure of willpower\u2019<\/h2>\n
What else we\u2019ve been reading<\/h2>\n
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Sport<\/h2>\n
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The front pages<\/h2>\n
Today in Focus<\/h2>\n
Cartoon of the day | Nicola Jennings<\/h2>\n
The Upside<\/h2>\n
Bored at work?<\/h2>\n