Farnham Guide to Weight Loss Injections and Stopping Safely

By Dr James Hubbard, GP. Farnham.

Thinking about weight loss jabs in Farnham?

More and more people are considering weight loss injections such as GLP1 receptor agonists, for example Mounjaro and semaglutide. By late 2025, 2.5 million people per month accessed GLP1s privately in the UK. More than 400,000 NHS prescriptions for Mounjaro and Ozempic were dispensed per month last year, and a YouGov poll predicts 3.3 million UK adults will use weight loss injections in 2026.

I want people in Farnham to understand the full picture before they start. These medicines can be life changing, but they also come with side effects and financial implications. Knowing what they can and cannot do helps you make a safe, informed decision.

Why these medicines matter beyond the scales

Many people talk about these injections as if they are only about fat loss. In my clinical work, I see them as treatments for metabolic disease. They do far more than help people “lose fat”. They improve cardiometabolic health, improving blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, improving sleep apnoea, and reducing risks of heart disease and stroke.

Put simply, GLP1 medications mimic a natural hormone that helps the body regulate hunger, slow digestion, and stabilise blood sugar. For people with obesity, these pathways often become dysregulated, leading to stronger hunger signals and difficulty maintaining weight loss. By calming these signals, GLP1s help the body return to a healthier metabolic balance, but they work best alongside supportive habits around food, sleep, stress, and activity.

New SELECT trial analyses show Semaglutide, Mounjaro reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events by 20%, and this benefit occurs regardless of the amount of weight lost. That reinforces the point that these are metabolic and cardiovascular treatments, not cosmetic agents.

What people often get wrong

In my Farnham consultations, a few misunderstandings come up repeatedly. Some people assume GLP1s are purely cosmetic weight loss tools, but they are treatments for metabolic disease. Others expect results to continue after stopping, when in reality weight regain is common without structured lifestyle habits in place.

Side effects are also often underestimated, especially nausea, constipation, muscle loss, and gallbladder issues. And few people consider the long term financial commitment, or the need to address emotional eating or ultra processed food dependence during treatment.

My key message is that GLP1 medications are powerful tools for improving cardiometabolic health, not shortcuts for cosmetic weight loss. They work best when paired with structured lifestyle change, and stopping requires a plan.

Who may benefit and what to do next

People who may benefit from GLP1 therapy are overweight or obese (BMI >27), with difficulties losing weight despite genuine lifestyle efforts. They might have metabolic risk factors such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea. Fatigue, sugar cravings, emotional eating, and dependence on ultra processed foods can also signal dysregulated appetite hormones. A family history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes raises risk further. If we recognise where our health is during working age then we have the best health in retirement.

If any of this resonates, start by speaking with a GP or specialist who can assess your cardiometabolic risk and help determine whether lifestyle, medications, or both are appropriate. Ask for support with nutrition, behaviour change, and identification of possible food addiction patterns, as these will strongly influence your long term success with (or without) injections.

I also encourage people to discuss the full range of options, including low carb methods, sleep and stress management, and exercise planning. Make sure you understand how GLP1s work, what the likely benefits are, and what side effects to expect. A shared decision making approach leads to safer and more sustainable outcomes.

Starting well and stopping safely

Lifestyle change remains the foundation for preventing and managing weight related metabolic disease, whether you live in Farnham or anywhere else. Building a routine that limits ultra processed foods, improves sleep, increased exercise, and reduces stress is essential, even if you start GLP1 injections. Psychological support, coaching, or group programmes help people build healthier relationships with food and maintain progress. Combining lifestyle with medication gives the best chance of sustained metabolic health and minimises future weight regain.

Stopping treatment also needs thought. Weight regain is common without structured lifestyle habits in place, so I prefer that people plan ahead rather than wait until they have already reached their target. Financial planning matters too, because ongoing costs are substantial, and many people discontinue due to expense.

If you feel unhappy or unwell with your weight, book an appointment with a Mayfield Clinic GP. Discussions about weight are highly personalised and need to be given enough time. If you choose to start treatment, or decide not to, we are hear to support you every step of the way. If you are already taking a GLP1 and are approaching your target weight, book a review early to plan a safe, gradual weaning strategy. For more information about Farnham, see the Farnham location page, along with details on weight loss services and general practice services.

For context, in my NHS work I have been using GLP1s to treat hundreds of patients with obesity and diabetes for more than a decade. I have completed additional training in Diabetes and Cardiology, and I understand the enormous benefits that can be achieved with these medications.