Beware the consequences of slimming pills… This is what happens to your body after you stop taking them.

Many slimming injections have recently gained widespread popularity among those who rely on them as a treatment for type 2 diabetes and those who want to lose a limited number of kilograms of weight, and some consider them a “magical” solution to reach an ideal body in a few months.

However, a recent scientific study warns those who take slimming injections as a treatment for diabetes or to lower cholesterol, of the potential risks of stopping their use with an unhealthy lifestyle, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Cardiac protection fades quickly

A new study published in the American medical journal BMJ found that popular slimming drugs “glucagon-like peptide-1”, known commercially as “Mongaro, Wegovi, and Ozambique”, in addition to their ability to improve blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, improve insulin resistance, lower bad cholesterol, and promote weight loss, put patients – especially those with type 2 diabetes – at risk of strokes and heart attacks when they stop using them.

333,000 participants

The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and published on March 18, followed more than 333,000 former U.S. soldiers with type 2 diabetes for three years. Compared to continuous use, they found that stopping or interrupting GLP-1 treatment for just six months was associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Increase in infection rate

The researchers discovered that the longer the treatment was discontinued, the greater the risks, reaching a 22% increase in the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death two years after stopping GLP-1, largely erasing the cardiac protection gained during treatment.

The results show that the consequences of stopping GLP-1 medications go beyond just weight regain, and underscore the importance of continued treatment for long-term heart protection.

Why does the “magic solution” fail when it stops?

In summarizing the study, lead author and University of Washington clinical epidemiologist Ziad Alaly said: “Many people stop taking the medication after a few months because of the cost, side effects, or product shortages. When they stop, not only do they regain the weight, but they also suffer from increased inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol.”

Al-Ali adds: “This sudden metabolic disturbance is harmful to heart health, and resuming the medication helped restore some protection, but only partially, indicating that stopping it leaves a lasting impact.”

The study concluded that stopping the use of GLP-1 drugs for one or two years without resuming them increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 14% to 22%, compared to continuing to take them. This means that any benefits gained during the period of taking GLP-1 drugs quickly disappear when patients stop taking them.

The study recommends continuing GLP-1 therapies to maintain cardiovascular protection, with the need to develop strategies to minimize treatment interruptions in order to maximize the cardioprotective effects.

How do these injections affect the body?

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Adel Moaty, a consultant in general internal medicine, liver, digestive system and endoscopy in Egypt, said that “GLP-1” injections work on the “glucagon-like peptide-1” hormone found in the stomach, which slows down the process of emptying the stomach. When using injections, this hormone increases, which makes the process of emptying the stomach take longer, giving a prolonged feeling of satiety.

Moati added to Al Jazeera Net that the injections affect the hunger hormone and the appetite is less than usual, but when the use of the injections is stopped, the appetite returns to normal, the hormone decreases, the stomach emptying process returns to its normal rate, and the stomach movement proceeds normally, which is why caution must be exercised to prevent the body from returning to its normal state before the use of the injections.

Therefore, the results of the treatment decline and the body begins to regain the lost weight unless attention is paid to stabilizing the body by following a healthy diet and exercising to maintain the starting point that began when using slimming injections.

Moati explained that GLP-1 treatments are excellent for type 2 diabetes patients in lowering blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, increasing insulin resistance, lowering bad cholesterol, and protecting the heart muscle, which reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. However, when stopping use – especially with high doses for diabetic patients – the body loses all the health benefits it gained during treatment, and begins to regain weight and appetite; thus, the level of sugar and cholesterol rises.

How can the damage be reduced?

Moati advises that a healthy diet and exercise at least 3 times a week are necessary to maintain the results of GLP-1 treatments and reduce the risk of experiencing a relapse of the health effects associated with stopping the use of GLP-1 treatments for diabetic patients, especially since these treatments are not a magic solution or a substitute for healthy diets.

He pointed out the need to follow doctors’ instructions when stopping GLP-1 treatments for diabetic patients specifically by gradually reducing doses to maintain heart protection, and replacing GLP-1 treatments with other diabetes medications that protect the heart, arteries and nerves, but whose effect on weight reduction is not the same as the effect of GLP-1 treatments.