Kiddipedia
There was a time when you would see a celebrity dramatically lose weight and wonder how on earth they had done it.
Now, you can barely scroll through social media without seeing another impossibly slim body, a dramatic before-and-after photograph or a celebrity who appears to have become a shadow of their former self almost overnight.
And naturally, many of us wonder: How did they do it?
The problem is that we don’t always know the answer.
We don’t know whether someone has changed their diet, increased their exercise, undergone surgery, taken a prescription medicine, experienced an illness or simply has a body that looks different from ours.
But there is no question that weight-loss injections have become a huge part of the public conversation about body size and weight.
And that raises a much more important question than how quickly someone can lose 10, 20 or 30 kilograms.
What happens when the injections stop?
Because these medicines were developed to help people with medical conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and some are now approved in Australia for chronic weight management. They are not simply cosmetic shortcuts designed to help somebody squeeze into a smaller dress.
Australian healthdirect explains that weight-loss medicines can support people to lose or manage weight, but that body weight is influenced by many factors and these medicines are generally used alongside lifestyle and behavioural changes. They are not considered a cure for obesity.
That distinction matters.
Because losing weight and learning how to live well in a body that has lost weight are not necessarily the same thing.
Clinical hypnotherapist and behavioural change practitioner Georgia Foster, known as The Viceless Mind Expert, says she is increasingly hearing from people who have used weight-loss medication, lost substantial amounts of weight and then struggled when their medication stopped.
Foster warned people are turning to her Pajama Diet program after stopping weight-loss injections, regaining the kilos and struggling to manage their weight without medication.
Australia’s weight-loss injection boom risks creating a generation of people who can lose weight with medication but have never learned how to manage their eating or weight without it, according to clinical hypnotherapist and behavioural change practitioner Georgia Foster.
Article Highlights
- Weight regain after stopping injectable weight-loss medicines is well documented.
- Weight-loss medication can be an appropriate medical treatment and is not simply a cosmetic product.
- Stopping medication can mean appetite and hunger return, which may make weight maintenance difficult.
- Weight management is influenced by biology, behaviour, environment, sleep, stress, nutrition and physical activity.
- Losing weight is not only about the number on the scales โ muscle, strength, bone health and overall wellbeing matter too.
- Midlife women have additional considerations around menopause, muscle mass and bone health.
- Australia’s TGA updated safety information for GLP-1 medicines in 2026 concerning the rare eye condition non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
- Some symptoms reported by individuals using these medicines, including tinnitus and vestibular symptoms, should not automatically be assumed to have been caused by the medication.
- Anyone considering starting, changing or stopping prescription weight-loss medication should talk with their treating doctor.
What the research shows
The strongest Australian clinical guidance is consistent on several important points: injectable GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medicines are not intended to be standalone solutions. Australian Prescriber describes them as part of an integrated approach that includes behavioural changes, lifestyle measures and health-professional monitoring. It also notes that obesity is a chronic, multifactorial condition and that weight regain is common when these medicines are stopped.
What Georgia Foster is reporting
The experiences and observations attributed to Georgia Foster throughout this article are her professional observations and reports from people accessing her programs. They should be distinguished from clinical trial findings, regulatory determinations and established medical evidence.
What we don’t know yet
Some symptoms discussed in this article โ particularly tinnitus, dizziness, vestibular symptoms, Mรฉniรจre’s disease and bone-density changes โ require careful distinction between a symptom occurring while somebody is taking a medicine and evidence that the medicine caused that symptom.
That distinction is important throughout this article.
The weight-loss injection revolution
GLP-1 medicines and related injectable treatments have changed the way doctors can approach weight management.
In Australia, medicines including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide are used for different approved indications.
Healthdirect explains that GLP-1 medicines work partly by acting like hormones released by the body after eating. They can reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness and slow the movement of food through the stomach. Tirzepatide acts on both GLP-1 and GIP pathways.
Australian Prescriber describes injectable weight-management medicines as treatments that can affect appetite, food enjoyment, satiety and gastric emptying. It also stresses that obesity management is complex and that medication should be used with behavioural changes and monitoring by health professionals.
In Australia, the medicines include:
- Semaglutide, including Wegovy for chronic weight management and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes.
- Tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, which is approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.
- Liraglutide, including Saxenda for chronic weight management and Victoza for type 2 diabetes.
So there is an important distinction to make.
These are medicines.
For someone who medically needs treatment, they can be an important part of managing a chronic health condition.
The question isn’t whether medication is โgoodโ or โbadโ.
The more useful question is:
What happens when treatment changes or stops, and how do we protect a person’s health in the process?
How these medicines actually work
It is easy to describe GLP-1 medicines simply as โappetite suppressantsโ, but their biology is more complicated.
GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide mimic the action of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1. They affect appetite pathways in the brain, increase satiety, slow stomach emptying and stimulate insulin release while reducing glucagon.
Tirzepatide is different. It acts on both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, giving it a dual mechanism of action.
Australian Prescriber explains that these combined effects can reduce appetite, alter food enjoyment and prolong feelings of fullness, while also affecting glucose regulation.
That matters because when treatment stops, it is not simply that someone has stopped taking a pill that โblocks hungerโ.
The pharmacological effect itself changes.
And that can change the experience of appetite, hunger and eating.
A note about the Australian medication landscape
Not every injection marketed or discussed as a โweight-loss injectionโ is the same medicine.
| Medicine | Active ingredient | Australian indication relevant to this article |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | Chronic weight management |
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | Type 2 diabetes |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide | Chronic weight management |
| Victoza | Liraglutide | Type 2 diabetes |
These distinctions are important because brand names, active ingredients and approved indications are not interchangeable. healthdirect and Australian Prescriber both provide this Australian-specific distinction.
The weight comes off but what happens when the medication stops
Weight regain after discontinuing GLP-1 weight-loss treatment is well documented. In an extension of the major STEP 1 semaglutide trial, participants regained approximately two-thirds of their previous weight loss within one year of stopping treatment. Foster believes this exposes a major weakness in the way society is approaching the weight-loss drug revolution.
“The injection may help control your appetite, but has it taught you how to manage your relationship with food?” Foster said.
“If you’ve spent decades emotionally eating, restricting yourself, overeating, dieting or believing you cannot trust yourself around food, those psychological patterns don’t necessarily disappear because your appetite has been suppressed.
“We are seeing people effectively asking us, ‘The drug helped me lose the weight. What do I do now?’ That is the conversation I think Australia desperately needs to have.”
Foster said some people are seeking out The Pajama Diet because they want to recalibrate their relationship with hunger, food and their body after using weight-loss medication.
“They want to know when they’re genuinely hungry again. They want to trust themselves around food and they are frightened of regaining the weight,” she said.
“Losing weight and learning how to manage your weight are not necessarily the same thing.”
Australian Prescriber similarly notes that regaining weight is common when injectable weight-management medicines are stopped, and says these medicines usually need to be considered as longer-term treatment rather than simply a short course.
That is an important point for anyone thinking about these medicines.
Starting treatment should also involve thinking about the longer term.
Not because everyone will necessarily remain on medication forever, but because the possibility of stopping, changing or continuing treatment should be part of the conversation with the prescribing doctor.
Healthdirect advises people to discuss how long treatment may be needed, possible side effects, medical history, cost and personal preferences with their doctor.
What happened after semaglutide stopped?
The STEP 1 extension gives us a useful illustration of why the issue is more complicated than simply saying โthe weight came backโ.
The extension followed 327 participants for another year after the 68-week treatment phase ended. Among participants who had received semaglutide 2.4 mg, average weight loss from baseline to week 68 was 17.3%. During the following year without treatment, they regained an average 11.6 percentage points of body weight, leaving an average 5.6% net weight loss from baseline at week 120.
In simple terms
Average weight loss during treatment: 17.3%
Average weight regained after stopping: 11.6 percentage points
Net weight loss remaining after one year: 5.6%
This does not mean every participant regained exactly two-thirds of their weight loss.
It describes the average result across the participants studied.
The researchers concluded that one year after withdrawal, participants had regained approximately two-thirds of their prior weight loss and that the findings were consistent with the chronic nature of obesity and the potential need for ongoing treatment to maintain improvements.
That is why the question of what happens after the medication stops is not a minor footnote.
It is part of the treatment conversation.
Why does weight come back?
This is where things become much more complicated than simply saying someone has โgone back to their old waysโ.
The human body is not a calculator.
When appetite is being pharmacologically reduced, a person may find it considerably easier to eat less.
When that medication is stopped, the medication’s appetite-suppressing effect also stops.
Hunger and appetite can return.
And the biological, psychological and environmental factors that contributed to someone’s weight before treatment haven’t necessarily disappeared.
For some people, that might include:
- strong hunger signals
- emotional eating
- eating in response to stress
- years of restrictive dieting
- food guilt
- poor sleep
- sedentary behaviour
- changes associated with menopause
- medications or medical conditions
- an environment where highly processed foods are readily available
- long-established eating habits
This does not mean everyone who regains weight has failed to develop healthy habits.
In fact, Australia’s National Obesity Strategy specifically calls for a shift away from blaming individuals and recognises the social, economic and environmental factors that can influence obesity and people’s ability to make healthy choices. It also identifies weight stigma and discrimination as significant problems.
That is an important conversation to have.
Weight regain isn’t a moral failure.
It is a health issue that deserves the same compassion and evidence-based care as the reason the medication was prescribed in the first place.
The biology behind weight regain
Weight regulation involves complex biological systems that respond when body weight changes.
When substantial weight is lost, the body can respond through changes in hunger, satiety and energy expenditure. At the same time, the medicine’s effect on appetite is no longer present after withdrawal.
This is one reason it is scientifically inaccurate to reduce post-treatment weight regain to a simple question of willpower.
Australian Prescriber describes obesity as a chronic, multifactorial condition and states that long-term use of injectable medicines is generally required for sustained weight reduction, alongside ongoing behavioural and lifestyle interventions.
There can also be a psychological component.
If someone has spent years cycling through restriction, overeating, emotional eating and dieting, those patterns may still be present even when appetite has been pharmacologically reduced.
And then there is the environment around us.
Food availability, food marketing, cost, work schedules, family routines, stress, sleep and socioeconomic circumstances can all influence eating and activity.
Australia’s National Obesity Strategy specifically recognises social and economic barriers and calls for greater attention to the broader causes of obesity rather than simply blaming individuals.
Stopping medication isn’t necessarily the same as failing
If someone’s weight increases after stopping a medication, it can be very tempting to think:
I couldn’t maintain it.
But weight regulation is influenced by much more than willpower.
Australian Prescriber describes obesity management as complex and notes that weight regain after stopping injectable medicines is common.
That means a person who experiences weight regain should not necessarily be sitting at home thinking they have โfailedโ.
They may need a new treatment conversation.
That could involve looking at:
- medication
- nutrition
- physical activity
- muscle mass
- sleep
- stress
- emotional eating
- menopause
- other medical conditions
- other medicines
- mental wellbeing
The important thing is to seek help early rather than waiting until the weight has substantially returned.
Do you have to stop?
Not necessarily.
The appropriate duration of treatment is an individual medical decision.
Healthdirect specifically tells people to discuss how long they may need treatment with their doctor, along with side effects, medical history, cost and personal preferences.
Australian Prescriber goes further, noting that because weight regain is common after stopping, these medicines often need to be considered as long-term treatment.
That does not mean every person will need medication indefinitely.
It means that reaching a target weight is not automatically the same thing as completing treatment.
Women are telling us their bodies don’t feel the same
Foster said the experiences being reported by some midlife women deserve particular attention.
“Women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are already navigating significant physical changes, including menopause, changes in muscle mass and increasing importance of bone health,” Foster said.
“Some women are telling us that while they were taking weight-loss injections they experienced problems involving bone density, eyesight, ringing in their ears, tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo and vestibular symptoms.
“Some have subsequently been diagnosed with conditions such as Mรฉniรจre’s disease. Are these caused by the weight loss drugs? These aren’t insignificant symptoms. Your eyesight, hearing, balance and bone strength have an enormous impact on your ability to work, exercise, drive, travel and enjoy your life.
“If something changes while you’re taking any prescription medication, talk to your doctor and have it investigated.”
That last point is important.
A symptom occurring while someone is taking a medicine does not automatically prove the medicine caused it.
That distinction is particularly important when discussing tinnitus, dizziness, vestibular problems, Mรฉniรจre’s disease or changes in bone density.
These symptoms can have many possible causes.
They deserve medical investigation rather than assumptions.
What people report versus what research establishes
Throughout this article, Foster’s comments describe experiences being reported to her and her professional interpretation of those experiences.
That is different from a clinical trial establishing a causal relationship.
At present, the evidence cited here does not establish that GLP-1 medicines generally cause Mรฉniรจre’s disease, tinnitus or osteoporosis.
That does not mean an individual person’s symptoms should be dismissed.
It means the appropriate next step is medical investigation rather than assuming causation.
Why midlife women need to think beyond the scales
For women moving through their 40s, 50s and 60s, weight is only one part of a much bigger picture.
Menopause changes the conversation.
Jean Hailes notes that women can experience relatively rapid muscle loss between approximately 40 and 60, particularly around menopause, while bone density also begins to decline after menopause.
Healthdirect similarly notes that muscle mass naturally declines with age and that the loss becomes more rapid after 50, with muscle loss occurring more quickly in females around menopause.
So if someone is losing a substantial amount of weight during midlife, the question shouldn’t simply be:
โHow many kilos have you lost?โ
It should also be:
โWhat have you lost?โ
Are you losing predominantly body fat?
Are you maintaining muscle?
Are you eating enough nutritious food?
Are you getting stronger?
Are you sleeping?
Are you moving?
Are you protecting your bones?
Are you feeling well?
Those questions don’t make the number on the scales irrelevant.
They simply put it into perspective.
Midlife women: don’t overlook these four things
1. Muscle
Weight loss can involve muscle loss, so strength matters.
2. Bone
Bone density naturally changes with age and particularly after menopause.
3. Balance
Strength, mobility and balance become increasingly important as we age.
4. Nutrition
Eating less does not automatically mean eating well.
Jean Hailes highlights the importance of staying active, eating well and preventing falls as women age, while healthdirect specifically notes faster muscle loss around menopause and the importance of protein and resistance exercise.
It’s not just about losing fat โ it’s about protecting muscle
Weight loss can involve the loss of both fat and muscle.
Healthdirect specifically warns that weight loss can lead to muscle loss and says it remains unclear whether injected weight-loss medicines cause more muscle loss than weight loss itself. Research in this area is still evolving.
This is particularly important because muscle is not just about appearance.
Muscle helps us:
- climb stairs
- carry shopping
- get up from a chair
- maintain balance
- exercise
- remain independent
- recover from illness
- reduce the risk of frailty as we age
Healthdirect recommends a healthy balanced diet with enough protein and regular exercise, particularly resistance training, to help prevent and manage muscle loss.
And Australia’s 2026 adult movement guidelines recommend muscle-strengthening activity on at least two days each week, alongside aerobic activity, functional activities targeting mobility, balance and coordination, reduced sedentary time and sufficient sleep.
That makes strength a far more useful goal than simply chasing a smaller number.
The number on the scales isn’t the whole story
A person’s health can involve many things beyond body weight, including:
- fat mass
- lean mass
- muscle strength
- physical function
- waist circumference
- fitness
- metabolic health
- sleep
- mental wellbeing
- quality of life
A lower number on the scales cannot tell us all of those things.
What about bone health?
The existing concern around bone density deserves a careful explanation.
There is not enough evidence to tell readers that GLP-1 medicines generally cause osteoporosis.
But bone health is still important during substantial weight loss, particularly for women around and after menopause.
Ageing, hormonal changes, inadequate nutrition, low physical activity and falls can all affect bone health.
Jean Hailes highlights the importance of staying active, eating well and preventing falls as women age, particularly as hormonal changes around menopause affect bones and joints.
So rather than asking:
โDo weight-loss injections cause osteoporosis?โ
the more useful question is:
โHow do I protect my bones while I am losing weight?โ
That conversation can include nutrition, adequate calcium and vitamin D where appropriate, weight-bearing activity, resistance training and an assessment of individual risk with a health professional.
Being thinner isn’t automatically the same as being healthier
Foster believes the obsession with dramatic weight-loss transformations can encourage people to focus on appearance rather than their overall health.
“We see somebody lose 20 or 30 kilograms and immediately say, you look amazing, but what else is happening,” Foster said.
“How strong are they? What is happening with their muscle mass and bone health? How are they sleeping? How is their eyesight? Are they experiencing dizziness? Do they have energy? How do they feel psychologically?
“Being thinner and being healthier are not automatically interchangeable concepts.”
She believes these questions become particularly important in midlife.
“For women moving through menopause, muscle and bone health are already incredibly important considerations. Rapidly losing a large amount of body weight shouldn’t mean we stop thinking about everything else happening in the body,” she said.
This is perhaps one of the most important conversations to have in the middle of today’s weight-loss culture.
A smaller body is not the only measure of health.
Strength matters.
Energy matters.
Mobility matters.
Sleep matters.
Mental wellbeing matters.
Cardiovascular health matters.
Bone health matters.
And being able to enjoy your life matters.
Eyesight concerns have attracted regulatory attention
Concerns about eyesight and GLP-1 medicines have already resulted in regulatory action. In July 2026, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration updated safety information for GLP-1 receptor agonists regarding non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but serious eye disorder that can result in sudden and potentially permanent vision impairment.
The TGA says its updated class-wide safety information applies to GLP-1 receptor agonists marketed in Australia, including dulaglutide, semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide.
Importantly, the regulator’s assessment found that the evidence was not identical across all medicines. The TGA’s expert advisory process concluded that the available evidence may support a signal for semaglutide, but not dulaglutide or tirzepatide, before the regulator considered the broader evidence and implemented class-wide safety information.
The TGA advises that people experiencing sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision, should seek urgent medical attention.
Foster said this demonstrates why unusual symptoms should not be dismissed simply because somebody is achieving the weight loss they wanted.
“People need to remember these are prescription medicines, not beauty treatments,” Foster said.
“If your eyesight changes, you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo, you’ve developed tinnitus or something else about your health doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it because you’re thrilled with what the scales are telling you. Speak to your doctor.”
Current evidence does not establish that GLP-1 medicines generally cause osteoporosis, Mรฉniรจre’s disease or tinnitus, and Foster emphasised that people should not stop prescribed medication without speaking to their treating medical practitioner.
What is NAION?
Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, is a rare disorder involving reduced blood flow to the optic nerve.
The TGA describes it as a rare but serious condition that may cause permanent visual impairment, including blindness. In July 2026, the regulator updated product warnings across the GLP-1 receptor agonist class because of the potential association.
The TGA’s Australian safety update lists GLP-1 medicines currently marketed in Australia including Trulicity (dulaglutide), Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
This should be understood as a rare safety concern, not evidence that eyesight problems are a common consequence of taking these medicines.
What should you do if your vision changes?
Do not wait for your next routine appointment if you experience sudden vision loss.
The TGA specifically advises urgent medical attention for sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision.
A sudden change in vision is different
The TGA’s advice here is very clear.
Sudden loss of vision โ even partial loss โ requires urgent medical attention.
The updated Australian safety information explains that NAION is rare but can result in permanent visual impairment.
This doesn’t mean that everyone taking a GLP-1 medicine is at risk of losing their sight.
It does mean that new and potentially serious symptoms should never be ignored simply because the medication is helping with weight or blood glucose.
What about tinnitus, dizziness and Mรฉniรจre’s disease?
This is an area where it is particularly important to separate individual experiences from established causation.
If someone develops tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo or balance problems while taking a medication, that symptom deserves medical assessment.
But that does not automatically mean the medicine caused it.
Mรฉniรจre’s disease has multiple possible contributing factors, and tinnitus and dizziness can occur in many different health conditions.
So the responsible message is not:
โWeight-loss injections cause Mรฉniรจre’s disease.โ
The responsible message is:
โIf a new or unusual symptom develops while you are taking medication, tell your doctor and have it investigated.โ
That is especially important when symptoms involve vision, hearing, balance or neurological function.
We are outsourcing weight management
Foster’s broader concern is that society is becoming increasingly dependent on external mechanisms to control eating and body weight.
“For decades we outsourced weight management to diets. Low fat, low carb, shakes, detoxes, fasting, keto, we were constantly told that something outside ourselves needed to control what we ate,” Foster said.
“Now, for some people, we’re outsourcing appetite itself to an injection. For people who medically need these treatments, appropriately prescribed weight-loss medication can clearly play an important role.
“I don’t want us creating a generation that believes, I cannot manage my weight unless something controls my appetite for me. What happens when that medication stops? We are creating a drug reliant generation of people who can’t manage their own weight through lifestyle choices and that is highly concerning.”
There is an important nuance here.
Medication and behavioural change do not have to be competing ideas.
In fact, Australian medical guidance supports a combined approach.
Australian Prescriber states that injectable weight-management medicines should be used alongside behavioural changes and monitoring by health professionals.
Healthdirect similarly says weight-loss medicines are usually used alongside lifestyle and behavioural changes.
So rather than:
medication OR healthy habits
the conversation can be:
medication AND learning how to support your health for the long term.
A note about the phrase โdrug reliant generationโ
The phrase โdrug reliant generationโ is Foster’s characterisation and concern, not an established epidemiological finding that Australia has created a generation of people who are unable to manage their weight without medication.
That distinction matters.
Medication dependence, long-term treatment and weight regain are legitimate clinical questions, but they should be discussed using evidence rather than assuming that every person taking a weight-management medicine will have the same experience.
What are you learning while you’re losing?
Foster argues that the period during which someone uses medically prescribed weight-loss medication could also provide an opportunity to work on the behaviours that will matter over the longer term.
“This shouldn’t be medication versus behavioural change. If your doctor believes medication is appropriate, that’s a medical decision. But while you’re losing weight, why wouldn’t you also learn about hunger, emotional eating, nutrition, movement and the psychological triggers that have shaped your relationship with food. Use every appropriate tool available.”
This is an important idea.
If appetite is quieter, perhaps that creates a chance to explore:
What does hunger actually feel like?
What foods make me feel satisfied?
What happens when I’m stressed?
Am I eating because I’m hungry, bored, exhausted or upset?
Am I frightened of particular foods?
Do I feel guilty after eating?
Am I still trapped in the restrictโovereat cycle?
Am I getting enough protein and nutritious food?
Am I getting stronger?
These aren’t questions that medication can answer for you.
While you’re losing weight, ask yourself:
Am I learning to recognise hunger?
Am I eating enough nutritious food?
Am I protecting my muscle?
Am I doing resistance training?
Am I sleeping enough?
Am I addressing emotional eating?
Do I understand my medication and side effects?
Do I know what my doctor wants my longer-term treatment plan to be?
What happens if my appetite changes?
The Australian approach: food doesn’t have to become another diet
One of the traps people can fall into after weight loss is immediately searching for the next diet.
Another set of rules.
Another list of forbidden foods.
Another promise that this time will be different.
But the Australian Dietary Guidelines don’t tell Australians to eliminate entire food categories.
They recommend enjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups:
- vegetables and legumes/beans
- fruit
- grain foods, mostly wholegrain
- lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds and legumes
- milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives
They also recommend drinking plenty of water.
That is a very different message from the endless cycle of restrictive diets.
Food is not the enemy.
Learning how to eat in a way that supports your health, energy, enjoyment and nutritional needs is much more sustainable than spending your life frightened of carbohydrates, fat, dessert or the occasional takeaway.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend variety across the five food groups and do not require people to eat from every food group at every meal.
Movement isn’t punishment for eating
The same principle applies to exercise.
Exercise doesn’t have to be a punishment for having eaten something you enjoyed.
It can be about:
strength.
mobility.
balance.
energy.
heart health.
bone health.
confidence.
Australia’s updated 2026 movement guidelines recommend that adults undertake moderate-to-vigorous activity for at least 30 minutes on most days, undertake muscle-strengthening activity on two or more days each week, include functional activities targeting mobility, balance and coordination on three or more days, reduce prolonged sedentary time and get sufficient sleep.
For someone using weight-loss medication, this matters because protecting strength and physical function should be part of the bigger health picture.
Side effects can affect nutrition and activity too
It is also worth remembering that these medicines can affect more than appetite.
healthdirect notes that many weight-loss medicines can cause gastrointestinal side effects, while Australian Prescriber notes that relatively minor gastrointestinal problems are common and that more serious adverse effects, including gallstones and pancreatitis, are possible.
For some people, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or reduced appetite can make it harder to eat enough nutritious food.
Healthdirect specifically notes that side effects from injected weight-loss medicines can make it harder to consume enough protein and can make exercise more difficult if a person feels tired.
That is another reason why nutrition and muscle preservation should be part of the conversation from the beginning, rather than something considered only after substantial weight has been lost.
The Pajama Diet: getting off the weight-loss treadmill
Foster created The Pajama Diet as a hypnosis and psychology-based digital program designed to help people move away from repeated dieting and develop a more intuitive relationship with food. Despite its name, Foster says it is deliberately not another diet.
“We have people who have spent decades being told they cannot trust themselves around food, and now we’re seeing people who have relied on medication to suppress their appetite and are terrified of what happens without it,” Foster said.
“We want people to understand themselves. Why do you eat when you’re not hungry? What happens when you’re stressed? What beliefs do you have about food? Why do certain foods frighten you? Why do you feel guilty after eating?
“An injection can suppress appetite. It cannot automatically rewrite decades of beliefs and behaviours around food. What are you learning while you’re losing.”
Foster believes everyone using weight-loss medication should consider what their long-term plan looks like.
“My question is simple: what are you learning while you’re losing. What are you learning about hunger, emotional eating, movement, strength and nutrition? What are you doing to protect your muscles and bones? What will you do if your appetite returns,” Foster said.
“If something changes with your eyesight, hearing, balance or any other aspect of your health while you’re taking medication, speak to your doctor. Don’t ignore your body because you’re losing weight.
“The objective shouldn’t simply be to become smaller, it should be to become healthier, stronger and more confident in managing your body for the rest of your life.”
What happens if your appetite returns?
This is the question many people are frightened to ask.
If you notice your hunger increasing after reducing or stopping medication, don’t panic and don’t immediately start another extreme diet.
Talk to your doctor.
A change in appetite can be a reason to review your treatment plan.
Your doctor may want to discuss:
- whether the medication should be continued;
- whether the dose or treatment needs reviewing;
- your nutrition;
- your physical activity;
- muscle strength;
- other medicines;
- medical conditions;
- menopause or perimenopause;
- sleep;
- emotional eating;
- your longer-term goals.
Australian Prescriber notes that weight regain after stopping injectable weight-management medicines is common and that these treatments often need to be considered over the longer term.
There is no prize for suffering through weight regain alone.
Before you stop a weight-loss injection, ask your doctor
If you’re thinking about stopping treatment, put these questions on your phone and take them to your appointment.
Ask:
Why are we stopping the medication?
What happens to my appetite when I stop?
How long might I need treatment?
What should I do if my weight starts increasing?
How can I protect my muscle mass?
Should I be doing resistance training?
Am I eating enough protein and other nutrients?
Do I need to think about bone health?
Could menopause be affecting my weight, muscle or bone health?
Which side effects should I watch for?
What symptoms mean I need urgent medical attention?
When should we review my progress again?
Healthdirect specifically recommends discussing treatment duration, side effects, medical history, cost and preferences with your doctor when considering weight-loss medicines.
Before stopping: a quick checklist
โ Why am I stopping?
โ Does my doctor think treatment should continue?
โ What should I expect to happen to my appetite?
โ What is my nutrition plan?
โ Am I getting enough protein?
โ How will I protect my muscle?
โ Am I doing resistance training?
โ Do I need to consider menopause or perimenopause?
โ Should I discuss bone health?
โ What side effects should I monitor?
โ What symptoms require urgent medical attention?
โ When is my follow-up appointment?
If something changes, don’t ignore it
If you are taking prescription medication and something about your health suddenly feels different, tell your doctor.
That might include:
- sudden or partial vision loss
- persistent or severe dizziness
- new balance problems
- significant changes in hearing
- persistent vomiting or dehydration
- severe abdominal pain
- unexplained weakness
- other new or concerning symptoms
The TGA specifically advises urgent medical attention for sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision, because of the rare but serious risk of NAION associated with GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
And importantly:
Do not stop prescribed medication without discussing it with your treating health professional, unless you have been given specific instructions to do so for an urgent adverse reaction.
What we know โ and what we don’t know
When it comes to rapidly evolving medicines, this distinction matters.
| What the evidence establishes | What remains uncertain or individual |
|---|---|
| Weight regain after stopping injectable weight-loss treatment is common. | The best long-term strategy for every individual after stopping treatment is not the same. |
| GLP-1 medicines can reduce appetite and increase fullness. | Individual responses to treatment and withdrawal vary. |
| Weight loss can involve muscle loss. | Research is still evolving on whether injected weight-loss medicines cause more muscle loss than weight loss itself. |
| Australian guidance recommends combining weight-management medicines with lifestyle and behavioural changes. | The most effective combination of behavioural strategies differs between people. |
| The TGA has updated GLP-1 safety information regarding rare NAION. | The evidence and risk profile continue to be monitored as these medicines become more widely used. |
| Menopause is associated with changes in muscle and bone health. | Individual bone and muscle risk varies substantially. |
| Tinnitus, Mรฉniรจre’s disease and vestibular symptoms can occur in individuals taking medicines, but that does not establish causation. | More research is required before such symptoms can be attributed generally to GLP-1 medicines. |
| Gastrointestinal side effects are common with many weight-loss medicines. | The severity and duration of side effects vary considerably between individuals. |
The TGA’s 2026 update is particularly important because it represents a current Australian regulatory action rather than simply an anecdotal report.
MYTH VS FACT
MYTH: Regaining weight after stopping means you’ve failed.
FACT: Weight regain after stopping injectable weight-management medicines is common and is recognised in Australian clinical literature.
MYTH: Weight-loss medication means you don’t need to change anything else.
FACT: Australian healthdirect guidance says these medicines are generally used alongside lifestyle and behavioural changes.
MYTH: The smaller the body, the healthier the person.
FACT: Health involves much more than body weight, including muscle strength, physical function, bone health, sleep, mental wellbeing and metabolic health.
MYTH: All weight-loss injections are the same.
FACT: Different medicines have different active ingredients, mechanisms, approved indications and safety information.
MYTH: GLP-1 medicines are proven to cause Mรฉniรจre’s disease.
FACT: That causal relationship has not been established. New symptoms should be medically assessed rather than automatically attributed to medication.
MYTH: Weight loss is only about eating less and exercising more.
FACT: Australia’s National Obesity Strategy recognises a much broader set of influences, including social, economic and environmental factors, and calls for greater attention to weight stigma and discrimination.
MYTH: Exercise during weight loss is only about burning calories.
FACT: Strength, mobility, balance and physical function are important parts of health. Australia’s 2026 movement guidelines specifically recommend muscle-strengthening and functional activities.
The bigger question isn’t simply: โHow much weight did I lose?โ
Perhaps the most useful question is:
โWhat am I learning while I’m losing?โ
Because if medication is helping to quiet the appetite, that may create space to learn things that remain valuable whether medication continues or eventually changes.
How to nourish your body.
How to recognise hunger and fullness.
How to build strength.
How to protect your bones.
How to sleep.
How to manage stress.
How to recognise emotional eating.
How to enjoy food without guilt.
How to look after your health rather than simply chase a smaller body.
And perhaps most importantly:
How to stop measuring your worth by the number on the scales.
It doesn’t have to be medication OR behaviour change
This is perhaps the biggest misunderstanding we need to move away from.
Someone can need medication and benefit from behavioural support.
Someone can need medical treatment and need help with nutrition.
Someone can lose weight and need help preserving muscle.
Someone can reach a lower weight and still need to work on sleep, strength, bone health or emotional wellbeing.
Medication does not have to mean giving up responsibility for your health.
And needing medication does not mean you’ve failed.
Likewise, choosing to work on nutrition, movement or behaviour does not mean you have to reject medical treatment.
There is room for both.
The goal should be bigger than becoming smaller
Foster’s final message is one that goes beyond the current obsession with before-and-after photographs.
“My question is simple: what are you learning while you’re losing. What are you learning about hunger, emotional eating, movement, strength and nutrition? What are you doing to protect your muscles and bones? What will you do if your appetite returns,” Foster said.
“If something changes with your eyesight, hearing, balance or any other aspect of your health while you’re taking medication, speak to your doctor. Don’t ignore your body because you’re losing weight.
“The objective shouldn’t simply be to become smaller, it should be to become healthier, stronger and more confident in managing your body for the rest of your life.”
And perhaps that’s the conversation we need to have more often.
Not:
How quickly can I become thin?
But:
How can I become healthier?
How can I become stronger?
How can I feel good in my body?
How can I look after myself for the next 10, 20 or 30 years?
Because there is a very big difference between losing weight and building a healthier life.
And when the medication eventually changes, that bigger picture is what remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when you stop a weight-loss injection?
Your appetite may increase as the medication’s appetite-suppressing effects wear off, and weight regain is common after injectable weight-management medicines are stopped. Australian Prescriber notes that these medicines often need to be considered as longer-term treatment.
Does weight always come back after stopping?
No. Individual responses vary. However, weight regain is common and should be discussed as part of the treatment plan before medication is stopped.
Do you have to stay on weight-loss medication forever?
There is no single answer for everyone. The appropriate duration of treatment depends on the medicine, the person’s health, response to treatment and medical circumstances. Healthdirect recommends discussing how long treatment may be needed with your doctor.
Can you maintain weight loss without medication?
Some people may maintain weight loss after treatment changes, while others experience significant regain. A person’s long-term plan should be developed with their healthcare team rather than assuming that stopping medication will produce the same outcome for everyone.
Can weight-loss injections cause muscle loss?
Weight loss itself can involve muscle loss. Healthdirect says research is still evolving on whether injected weight-loss medicines cause more muscle loss than weight loss alone. Adequate nutrition and resistance training can help protect muscle.
Why is muscle important during weight loss?
Muscle supports strength, movement, balance and independence. Muscle loss can contribute to weakness, falls and frailty, particularly as people age.
Why is menopause relevant to weight loss?
Menopause is associated with changes in muscle and bone health. Jean Hailes notes that women can experience faster muscle loss between approximately 40 and 60, particularly around menopause, while bone density also begins to decline after menopause.
Are GLP-1 medicines linked to eyesight problems?
The TGA updated Australian safety information in July 2026 concerning the rare eye condition NAION. Sudden or partial vision loss requires urgent medical attention.
Can GLP-1 medicines cause tinnitus or Mรฉniรจre’s disease?
There is currently not sufficient evidence to state that GLP-1 medicines generally cause tinnitus or Mรฉniรจre’s disease. If these symptoms develop while taking medication, they should be discussed with a doctor.
What should I do if my weight starts coming back?
Don’t assume you’ve failed and don’t automatically start another restrictive diet. Speak with your doctor and review your treatment, appetite, nutrition, activity, muscle health, sleep, mental wellbeing and any other relevant health factors.
What should I ask my doctor before stopping?
Ask about how long you may need treatment, what may happen to your appetite, whether weight regain is likely, how to protect muscle and bone health, what symptoms to monitor and what your follow-up plan will be.
About Georgia Foster
Georgia Foster, known as The Viceless Mind Expert, is a Melbourne-based clinical hypnotherapist and behavioural change practitioner with more than 30 years’ experience.
She is the founder of 7 Days To Drink Less, a hypnosis and psychology-based digital program designed to help adults reconsider their emotional and habitual relationship with alcohol and reduce their drinking without necessarily giving it up completely.
Georgia is also the creator of The Pajama Diet, a digital program focused on helping people move away from the diet treadmill and develop a more intuitive relationship with food.
Based in South Melbourne, Georgia has previously been featured extensively in UK media and is now focused on encouraging more open conversations about alcohol, food, habits, shame and behavioural change.
A note for readers
This article is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Prescription weight-management medicines should be prescribed, reviewed and changed in consultation with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
If you are taking a prescribed medicine and develop sudden or partial vision loss, seek urgent medical attention.
Australian References & Further Reading
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). GLP-1 RAs and rare vision disorder. 23 July 2026. TGA safety update
Healthdirect Australia. Weight loss medicine. Healthdirect โ Weight loss medicine
Healthdirect Australia. Loss of muscle mass โ sarcopenia. Healthdirect โ Loss of muscle mass
Yates, N. & South, T-L. Injectable drugs for weight management. Australian Prescriber, 48, 197โ202, 2025. Australian Prescriber โ Injectable drugs for weight management
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 24-hour movement guidelines for all Australians. Updated 2026. Australian Government โ 24-hour movement guidelines
Australian Dietary Guidelines / Eat For Health. Australian Dietary Guidelines. Eat For Health โ Australian Dietary Guidelines
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Description of Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Eat For Health โ Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. Bones, joints and ageing well โ what every woman should know. 25 June 2026. Jean Hailes โ Bones, joints and ageing well
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. National Obesity Strategy 2022โ2032. National Obesity Strategy 2022โ2032
Primary international evidence for the STEP 1 withdrawal findings
Wilding, J.P.H., et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. STEP 1 trial extension โ primary research
This is the one deliberate international primary research source used for the specific 17.3%, 11.6 percentage-point and 5.6% figures because it is the original clinical evidence underlying those numbers.
The takeaway
Weight loss is not the whole story.
For someone who medically needs weight-management medication, these medicines can be an important part of treatment.
But the bigger health picture still matters.
What happens to your appetite?
What happens to your muscle?
What happens to your bones?
How are you eating?
How are you moving?
How are you sleeping?
How are you feeling?
And perhaps the most important question of all:
What are you learning while you’re losing?
Because the goal of good healthcare isn’t simply to make a person smaller.
It is to help them live a healthier, stronger and more sustainable life.
