Written by Laura Reed (Health Coach) & Reviewed by Dr Abby Hyams (Doctor)
Why weight regain happens after stopping Mounjaro
GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists like Mounjaro lower appetite and slow digestion. When you stop, that effect fades, and natural hunger cues return. Unless you have made changes to your lifestyle it’s very easy to slip back into your old habits unless something else has changed to keep you on track.
Here’s what typically happens:
Hunger hormones such as ghrelin increase
Satiety hormones such as GLP-1 and leptin decrease (hormones that tell your body you’re already full)
Food cues feel more tempting than when you were taking Mounjaro
In the STEP-1 extension study¹, people who stopped semaglutide (a similar GLP-1 medicine to Mounjaro) regained around two-thirds of their lost weight within a year without any support.
“Mounjaro helps you lose weight, but it doesn’t teach you how to keep it off. Aftercare - Life After GLP-1 Coaching - is where lasting change really begins.”
– Laura
The emotional journey after stopping Mounjaro
Many people are surprised by the emotional side of this phase. Common experiences include:
Fear of weight regain
Frustration as appetite and cravings return
Grief for the “easier” period on medication
Shame when old habits resurface
These are normal. Your body is readjusting. Aftercare coaching offers reassurance, guidance, and practical tools to rebuild confidence.
“When hunger comes back, people panic and think they’ve failed. In reality, it’s your body rebalancing. The goal is to support that process, not fight it.”
– Laura
“When hunger comes back, people panic and think they’ve failed. In reality, it’s your body rebalancing. The goal is to support that process, not fight it.”
– Laura
How Mounjaro affects your brain and habits
Mounjaro works in the brain’s reward centres as well as the gut. It reduces the pleasure response linked to food, which helps curb cravings.
When you stop taking it:
Dopamine and reward pathways become active again
Cravings for sugar, carbs, and snacks can feel stronger
Emotional eating triggers may resurface
“Life After GLP-1 Coaching is about retraining your brain by gradually re-exposing you to trigger foods, building new reward habits through movement and mindfulness, and staying accountable so those changes truly stick.”
– Laura
The “invisible relapse” window
If you’re wondering when weight regain risk peaks after Mounjaro – it’s often not immediately. It usually happens silently in months three to six. Here’s the pattern most people experience:
Month 1: confidence is high
Month 3: small indulgences creep in
Month 6: old routines begin to resurface
“That’s why ongoing check-ins are crucial. By spotting subtle changes early, you can prevent a full relapse before it starts.”
– Laura
The social and identity shift after stopping Mounjaro
Maintaining weight loss after Mounjaro isn’t just about food. You’ll also experience societal challenges. Without medication, you face:
Office snacks and social meals
Holidays and celebrations
Family habits and cultural norms
“Life After GLP-1 Coaching helps you redefine yourself from ‘someone on Mounjaro’ to ‘someone who lives a healthy lifestyle.’ This shift in self-image makes your new habits stick.”
– Laura
NICE guidance - aftercare is now a clinical expectation
NICE’s 2025 update² says:
“Offer at least one year of structured follow-up and support to reduce weight regain and weight cycling after treatment.”
This means:
Ongoing monitoring
Tailored care plans
Behaviour change coaching
If you’re learning how to maintain weight loss after Mounjaro, structured follow-up is now the evidence-based standard of care.
The healthcare system gap and how Medicspot fills it
Most private programmes still end when the injections stop, leaving patients on their own just when they need the most support.
Medicspot’s weight loss programme was built differently. From day one, it combines:
Clinical prescribing and monitoring
1:1 accountability coaching
Behaviour change education
Peer community support
12 months free aftercare
This approach directly aligns with NICE’s new aftercare recommendations, helping patients sustain their success, not just achieve it.
“Once you achieve your goal weight, Medicspot provides 12 months of free coaching to help you rebuild habits, stabilise your weight, and prevent weight regain. Your body is adaptable – it’s never too late to strengthen the foundations for long-term success.”
– Laura
Final thoughts
If you’ve stopped Mounjaro and your appetite has returned, don’t panic – and don’t give up. This is normal and to be expected, it’s how we manage it from here that will help you maintain your long term health goal.
Maintaining weight loss after Mounjaro requires the same intention and structure that helped you lose it, but with new skills for a new phase.
If you’ve finished Mounjaro or are nearing the end, Medicspot’s Life After GLP-1 Coaching programme can help you keep your results, protect your health, and feel confident for life.
About the authors
Laura Reed is a Health Coach and Success Advocate with Medicspot. She holds a Level 5 Ofqual Diploma in Health & Wellness Coaching (UKIHCA approved), and Level 3 & 4 AfN Diplomas in Nutrition. Laura is deeply passionate about helping people create meaningful, lasting change, especially in weight management and lifestyle habits. She brings a background in counselling and behaviour change, with a focus on understanding how past experiences shape current food and movement patterns. In her role at Medicspot, Laura supports members using GLP-1 medications and beyond, empowering them to build healthier, more confident lives.
Dr Abby Hyams grew up in Manchester and completed her medical training in Bristol. She has been a GP for 19 years, spending many of those as a partner in an NHS practice in Hemel Hempstead. Dr Hyams loves being a GP because of the wide spectrum of people she encounters every day and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in their lives. She has a particular passion for supporting patients with weight loss and promoting positive behaviour change, helping individuals build sustainable habits that improve their long-term health and wellbeing.