A Hot Topic: Why I Compare Weight Loss Jobs to Steroids

There are now various forms of weight loss injections, but for the sake of this blog I'm going to generalise.

Straight out of the gate, I want to give you my view, as this can be seen as a controversial topic.

I am neither pro- nor anti- weight loss injections. Just as I am neither pro- nor anti- anabolic steroids. What I am is pro-education. And this is why I feel compelled to write this blog.

To be clear, I'm not an expert on either subject, and my views are based on publicly available information alongside personal views, opinions, and observations formed from working with clients who use these.

So why do I often compare weight loss injections to steroids? There are a few reasons.

Let's look at a theoretical conversation: a client tells me they're thinking about starting weight loss injections. Another client tells me they're thinking about taking steroids.

My questions to both people would be the same:

1) Have you personally done the research?

I ask this because I see people get excited about the results their mate got. But the problem is, it's a bit like that visit to the casino — we tell everybody about the wins but have a tendency to forget about the losses. And this is important, as there are significant side effects which you may or may not deem worthwhile.

2) Have you done what it takes to get as far as you can?

If you're jumping on steroids having not weight trained for a significant period of time, fully dialed in your nutrition, or prioritised less potent supplements, then you're almost certainly rushing into making a big decision.

If you're looking to begin weight loss jabs but you haven't worked with a coach for a significant period of time on your diet and exercise, or potentially seen a therapist if your diet history involves any sort of disorder — you're also rushing.

3) Do you have a plan alongside this?

Particularly when talking about weight loss jabs, this is a big one. Make no mistake, the jabs work. They work well and they work fast!

The problem is, this can lead you to thinking that you don't need to exercise, and to being even less mindful about your nutrition. This will almost certainly lead to muscle loss (the importance of which cannot be understated) and a reduction in energy, which creates a vicious circle leading to further reduced training.

I'm seeing fit and strong people reduce their exercise and compromise their performance in the pursuit of a lower number on the scale.

Caveat: I'm also witnessing responsible people who have battled with their weight for a long time, use the injections as a tool to accelerate their fat loss while monitoring their stats closely to ensure that they are not compromising their health.

4) What's the long-term plan?

Approximately 70% of people regain the weight they lost within 1.5–2 years of stopping injections. This is true to a degree of any 'diet' which generally isn't sustainable (and is why we always focus on steady, long term changes) but due to the effectiveness of the injections, the swing may be more extreme. This means, and what a lot of people don't realise, that the injections are increasingly being seen as a long-term treatment.

So when you consider the aforementioned likelihood of reduced exercise and poorer food choices, this can either become a recipe for disaster or an indefinite plan. Do you want to be stuck on this forever? If not, refer to point 2!

My Take

Weight loss injections have their place, but they are too often being used as a quick fix as opposed to a last resort or 'tool in the toolbox'.

You are a grown adult and fully capable of making your own decision — you'll get no judgement here.

But do your research and think about the long-term effects, which are not yet fully known.

And finally, always prioritise good health over a quick fix.