The hidden cost of weight loss injections: 

The downsides that nobody tells you about

There is growing excitement around the new generation of GLP-1 weight loss injections. These medications were originally developed to help manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but they are now widely prescribed for weight loss because of their powerful effect on appetite and cravings.

The results can be striking. People often lose weight quickly and find themselves eating far less than they used to. For some, this brings relief after years of struggling with food and weight and they feel a momentary victory. However, for others, something more complex begins to unfold.

When food makes you feel sick

One of the most commonly reported side effects of GLP-1 weight loss medications is nausea. Some people also experience reflux, bloating or a persistent feeling of fullness. Others develop strong aversions to food, especially rich or protein-based meals. Appetite may vanish altogether, or come and go in uncomfortable and unpredictable ways. Some women describe the food aversion as similar to when they were pregnant.

For some, this is seen as a positive effect because they are eating less but for others, it can be unsettling. Favourite meals lose their appeal. The thought of eating becomes unpleasant. Social meals may feel difficult or even impossible. Food, which once brought pleasure or comfort, starts to feel like a problem to avoid.

This physical aversion can quietly shift into emotional flatness. When food no longer brings joy, other parts of life may begin to feel muted too.

There are also concerns among professional colleagues about the use of these leading to or maintaining eating disordered behaviour.

Food supports more than the body

Enjoying food helps stimulate important brain chemicals, including dopamine and serotonin. These support mood, motivation and a sense of wellbeing. We are biologically designed to enjoy food, especially when it is part of a calming or social setting.

Without that natural source of emotional nourishment, people can begin to feel low, anxious or disconnected. This is not a flaw. It is a sign that the brain and body are adjusting to a sudden shift in stimulation and reward. I have seen a similar pattern in clients who remove highly processed foods from their diets. It often takes time for the nervous system and mood to stabilise.

This stage can feel unsettling, but it is also understandable. When pleasure is taken away too quickly, the brain needs time to recalibrate. What is often missing in these situations is proper support.

Rebound appetite and rapid weight gain

GLP-1 medications work by disrupting hunger signals. But they do not resolve the emotional and behavioural patterns that drive overeating. When the medication is stopped, the appetite usually returns. In many cases, it returns intensely. People often describe feeling suddenly ravenous, out of control and distressed.

Rebound weight gain is common. This can feel discouraging, especially if the initial weight loss brought compliments or a new sense of identity. For some, the idea of staying on the drug for life begins to feel less like a solution and more like a dependency.

These challenges are not signs of personal weakness. They reflect the complex way the body responds to suppressed appetite and restored hunger.

There is another way to find ease with food

Food is not the enemy. In fact, many people find long-term peace with eating when they learn how to reconnect with hunger, notice satisfaction, regulate emotions without food, and bring gentle enjoyment back to meals. These are learnable skills that support emotional wellbeing, not just weight control.

Why I am choosing a different path

With 26 years of experience helping people address eating difficulties, emotional eating and weight concerns, I know that real change comes from working with your body, not against it. Appetite-suppressing medications may create short-term change, but they rarely address the deeper issues that keep people stuck.

I help clients restore their natural hunger and satisfaction signals, repair their relationship with food, and build a way of eating that is calm, nourishing and enjoyable. This includes support for dopamine, serotonin and nervous system balance so that emotional wellbeing grows alongside any physical changes.

There is a more sustainable path forward. It does not rely on long-term medication, and it does not involve silencing your body. It involves listening, supporting and gently returning to a more natural rhythm with eating and life.

Get in touch if you would like to know more how I can help you with this.

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Many people lose weight on GLP-1 weight loss injections, but experience side effects like nausea, food aversion and emotional flatness. Learn how to restore food pleasure, support dopamine and serotonin, and build sustainable wellbeing beyond medication.