Maintaining Your Results With GLP-1s

Reaching your goal weight is a real achievement, and you deserve to feel proud of yourself.

But it can also feel surprisingly nerve-wracking. Many people tell us that the closer they get to their target, the more anxious they feel about what comes next.

What happens to the medication? Will I regain the weight? What if I need to start all over again?

These are normal questions, and you’re not alone in asking them. This guide is here to answer them honestly, lay out your options clearly and remind you that our support doesn’t stop just because you’ve reached a certain number on the scale.

Article Summary:

• Stopping or pausing GLP-1 treatment is a completely valid choice. There’s no pressure to stay on medication forever, and returning later is straightforward and judgment-free.
• Weight fluctuations are normal and don’t mean something has gone wrong. Maintenance is a range rather than a fixed number.
• Medication is one part of managing obesity, but the lifestyle changes you’ve made matter and work alongside it.

Understanding obesity

Obesity is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a chronic, relapsing medical condition. [1] That framing matters because it changes how we think about treatment.

Think about high blood pressure medication. When someone stops taking it, their blood pressure doesn’t stay low. It usually starts to rise again.

GLP-1 medications work similarly. They help regulate appetite, quieten food noise and improve blood sugar control. But when you stop taking them, your body’s baseline hunger signals come back. [2]

This is why, for many people, ongoing treatment becomes part of a long-term management plan. Just as it is with blood pressure. So, the decision to stop or continue medication deserves careful thought, rather than an automatic stop when you hit a goal.

What happens when you reach your goal weight?

Reaching your goal weight marks the beginning of your maintenance phase. With MedExpress, your treatment won’t be stopped automatically. What happens next is your choice. There’s no single “right” answer, and there’s no pressure to make any particular decision.

It’s worth knowing that small changes on the scales are normal. Hydration, hormones and what you ate yesterday can all move the number on the scale by a kilogram or more. A small increase doesn’t mean something has gone wrong, and it doesn’t automatically mean your medication dose needs to change.

Think of maintenance as a range, rather than a single number on the scales.

Your maintenance options

Stay on your current dose

If your current dose is working well and you’re tolerating it, you can continue on it. Many people choose this option to maintain their weight loss results and support long-term health goals.

Taper to a lower dose

Some people prefer a lighter maintenance approach. A lower dose can still provide meaningful appetite support and weight stability, often with fewer side effects and at a lower cost. You can explore this at your own pace.

Take a treatment break or stop altogether

If you decide to pause or stop, that’s completely fine. There’s no pressure to stay on medication, and no embarrassment in returning if and when you want to.

Whatever option you choose, it doesn’t have to be permanent. Our door is always open.

About the BMI threshold

We currently prescribe GLP-1 treatments down to a BMI of 21. If your BMI drops below this, we will need to pause treatment.

You don’t need to aim for a BMI below 25 to be in maintenance. If you feel healthy and well at a BMI of 26 or 27, that’s a completely valid place to maintain. Your goals are your own.

For reference:

BMI categories based on NHS guidelines.

Taking a break and coming back

Many people will pause treatment at some point. It might be to see how they feel without it, because of cost, or simply because they want to try. This is a natural part of the journey. You’re always welcome back, with no judgement and no unnecessary barriers. And if you do restart, you won’t need your BMI to be 30 or above again.

Here’s how we approach restart doses:

Supporting yourself through the transition

Whether you decide to stay on medication or stop, the habits you’ve built are your most valuable asset.

1. Prioritise protein and fibre. Both help you feel fuller for longer, which becomes especially important if your GLP-1 support is reduced or you decide to stop treatment.
2. Keep moving. Strength training in particular helps you maintain muscle mass, which supports your metabolism even at rest.
3. Trust yourself to notice changes. Increased food noise, feeling hungrier between meals, or gradual weight gain are signals worth paying attention to early. If you ever feel you need extra support, you can always return to treatment.

We’re here for the long term

Maintenance is an ongoing process rather than a single destination, and it can be emotionally demanding. The anxiety many people feel at this stage is real and valid. We don’t expect you to have it all figured out the moment you reach your goal weight.

Whatever path you choose, it’s your decision to make. And if you ever want to come back after stopping treatment, we’ll make that as straightforward as possible.

References

1. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight [Internet]. 2025 Dec 8 [cited 2026 Mar 20]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
2. West S, Scragg J, Aveyard P, Oke JL, Willis L, Haffner SJP, Knight H, Wang D, Morrow S, Heath L, Jebb SA, Koutoukidis DA. Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2026 Jan 7;392:e085304.