What Happens When You Reach Your Goal BMI While Taking GLP-1s?

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have boomed in popularity for weight loss in the last few years. Essentially, GLP-1s work by curbing your hunger, making sustainable weight management more attainable. 

If you’re currently on GLP-1s or looking to start a GLP-1 weight loss program, you may be curious about what treatment looks like when you’ve reached your goal BMI. The answer to that is often dependent on the individual and their provider's recommended treatment plan. However, in this article, we will discuss use cases for staying on GLP-1 medications, how to maintain your goal BMI, and what to expect long-term. 

Before reaching your goal BMI, set yourself up for success

Most people start out their GLP-1 weight loss journey with a weight or BMI goal in mind. However, before you even reach your maintenance goal, you should be incorporating some lifestyle changes that will benefit you long-term. Throughout your treatment, think about adding the following:

• Muscle loss with GLP-1s: It’s important to maintain and build muscle mass. Strength training, adequate protein intake, and sleep are the keys to regaining muscle mass and strength during and after weight loss.

• Emotional and mental health impacts: Weight loss can be mental as much as it is physical. Often, people experience a range of mixed emotions while going through treatment and it’s completely normal. Developing strong support systems and speaking to a licensed therapist can help.  

• Healthier eating habits: Building long-term healthy eating habits doesn’t have to be restrictive or daunting. By starting early and with small changes, you will find that by the time you reach your goal BMI, the changes have become habits that take little thought or effort. For example, trying swapping out packages or processed foods with whole foods (fruit, vegetables, lean proteins). Over time, these small tweaks add up to big changes. 

It’s important to work with your healthcare providers to create a personalized long-term plan to support you long after you have reached your goal weight. 

Reaching your goal BMI

Okay, so what happens when you finally do reach your goal weight? First, give yourself some MAJOR kudos. You did it! That is an amazing accomplishment. But how do you maintain it? This is where working with your provider to create a game plan is key. 

Continuing GLP-1s vs stopping completely

Whether or not to stay on your current GLP-1 dose, taper your dose down, take a lower maintenance dose, or come off of the GLP-1 completely is a decision that you and your healthcare provider have to make as a team. 

It has been shown in some studies that many people who stop taking their GLP-1 do regain some or all of their lost weight. This doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to regain weight after you stop taking GLP-1s but it does mean that you have to work very hard to maintain your weight loss without the support that a GLP-1 provides. 

The decision to stay on your GLP-1 medication longer-term is one that many people make. Your prescriber may recommend tapering off slowly and gradually, or going to a lower maintenance dose, or may keep you on the same dose you have been on. 

Always discuss any plans to change or stop your medication with your healthcare provider, they will recommend the best plan of action and dosage they deem best based on your side effects, weight loss goals, and overall tolerance of the medication. 

Are there risks to taking GLP-1s long-term?

More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of these medications as they are relatively new and long-term studies are still ongoing. As with any medication, there are side effects of taking GLP-1s. Some known side effects of GLP-1s include mood changes like anxiety, depression and sleep problems, pancreatitis, and intestinal obstruction (blockage). 

As more research is done on GLP-1s for longer lengths of time, there will be a much clearer picture of how best to proceed with using the medications long-term. 

How to reduce your risk of regaining weight after stopping GLP-1 medications

There are plenty of things you can do to maintain your weight after stopping GLP-1s: 

• Exercise: Stick to a customized exercise plan that you can create with the help of a personal trainer or physical therapist. Staying active and building muscle strength will help you maintain your goal weight and rebuild any muscle you may have lost during the weight loss period.

• Diet: Stick to a healthy but filling diet of vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Staying away from fast foods, processed foods, and sugary food and drinks will go a long way toward keeping you feeling fuller and more energized for longer. 

• Sleep: Make sure to get 7 or more hours of good quality sleep every night. Being sleep deprived will make you hungrier during the day and less likely to have the energy to exercise. 

• Keep yourself accountable: Monitor your weight, exercise, diet, and sleep habits carefully on a daily basis to make sure you aren’t falling off track. 

• Get professional help: If you find that you are not able to maintain your weight alone, reach back out to your weight loss healthcare professional to see what the best next steps are. 

Maintaining weight loss beyond GLP-1s

Reaching your goal BMI is just one step in the journey toward long-term weight loss success and better health. Maintaining that weight loss requires ongoing work toward your overall lifestyle and health. 

Prioritize your physical, as well as mental wellness, with strength training, good sleep, healthy food choices, and therapy or social support systems. Continue to work closely with your healthcare team to keep track of your progress and identify any setbacks as early as possible. By taking this holistic approach, you are much more likely to maintain a healthy BMI for years to come. 

At Agile Telehealth, our patients can expect ongoing care with our team of licensed clinicians. They'll provide diet and exercise recommendations as well as offer medication and treatment support. Why do we do this? We understand that the path to better health doesn’t stop after your goal BMI is reached. So we offer that extra bit of support as you navigate your health journey.

Interested in one of our medical weight loss programs? See if you qualify here!