Weight loss "stalling" on GLP1s?

GLP1 Receptor Agonists are incredibly effective for most people, but they are not miracle drugs and they do not work for everyone.

For people that cannot take GLP1s – either due to side effects or cost – they must work with their doctors or medical professionals to find another solution to getting healthier (whether dealing with type 2 diabetes or obesity).

One thing people have found and reported on repeatedly is the fact that they sometimes "stall out" while losing weight with GLP1 receptor agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound and others.

The reddit users in the linked thread above shared many interesting and important things to remember about a slow down in weight loss, with many personal accounts that were worth taking note of.

Delaying shots seemed to boost the effects, suggesting on/off regimens might be effective

One of the most prominent comments in the thread noted how stopping the dosage temporarily seemed to increase the potency of the subsequent dosage.

Quick tip… I had to be off MJ for 10 days for a procedure. I took my next shot (10mg) on day 11. Same pen from same box. Prior weeks I felt not much of anything. But this week after delaying my shot for 4 days longer… wow. Strongest effects yet and this is the 4th dose of 10. Maybe try that one week? Delay your 15 to day 11 and see if that helps reset you a bit?

The human body is a wonderful optimizing machine. Sometimes this "optimization" means that things that were previously effective are less effective (ex. your body adapting to an exercise such as running).

The suggestion here isn't a new one – being on/off Ozempic and other GLP1s has been touted in the past as being a good way to get off the drugs completely.

Most media though, focuses on what to do if you stop taking GLP1s completely (with positive or negative narratives):

What happens when you stop taking weight-loss drugs?

Weight-suppressant drugs have helped millions to lose weight. But once they’re stopped, people tend to regain most of what they shed. What does this mean for their long-term health?

BBCDavid Cox

Another user noted that while higher dosages had more negative effects,

I stalled at 2.5mg. Tried 5mg, which made me so sick, so I had to wait 2 weeks for a new shipment of 2.5mg and it Jump started me again. I lost 50 lbs of my 70.5 lbs loss on 2.5mg. So, stopping for a few days, definitely jumpstarted me again.

Diet and Exercise can help (and much more so without "food noise")

While we think the folks touting diet & exercise as the only necessary remedy are missing a few options, one redditor noted that that increasing diet and exercise/focusing on lifestyle factors is clearly important:

Re calculate your caloric deficit, and walk more. That’s what worked for me. I have to track, measure, and weigh everything I put in my mouth or else I gain. Eve on 15mg, even “eating healthy”.

If I want to loose weight, I have no choice but to:

-to exercise at least an hour a day, be active throughout the day
-weigh, measure and track everything I put in my mouth while eating at a 6-800 calories deficit.

Just the way it is.

Reasonable advice, and certainly an easier regimen to follow with the other benefits of GLP1s primarily being brain-related (and effectively stopping/reducing food cravings).

Other reddit users also went as far as detailing their exercise routines, switching to Metformin, and doing other things when they found they weren't getting the results they expected from GLP1s any more.