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Should you skip weight loss injections at Christmas? 

Should you skip weight loss injections at Christmas? 

Whether you keep or stop using your weight loss injections over the holiday season can be a difficult decision. You might find that it's easier to hit your goals if you maintain your weekly treatment schedule, but increased expenses and social expectations can make it difficult to stay on top of it. 

Alexandra Cristina Cowell
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Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
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Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on Nov 19, 2024.
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Alexandra Cristina

Last updated on Oct 15, 2025.

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Dr Daniel Atkinson on stopping weight loss injections at Christmas:

“If you’ve gradually increased from the starting dose of your weight loss injection to the maintenance dose, taking a break isn’t as simple as it might seem. You can stop Wegovy or Zepbound treatment whenever you like, but if you’re restarting after a break of more than two weeks, you should start again at the lowest dose and gradually increase every four weeks like you did when you first started treatment. Restarting on a higher dose after a break of more than a fortnight could lead to side effects like abdominal cramps, headache and nausea.’’

Summary

  • Continuing Wegovy, Zepbound or Saxenda over the holidays can help maintain weight loss progress, reduce festive food cravings, and minimize the risk of regaining any lost weight.
  • Potential downsides of pausing treatment include weight regain, increased appetite, and slipping into unhealthy habits.
  • If you’re looking to compromise, you might find dropping a dose, or delaying your next dose increase, to be useful.
  • If you’re wondering whether to continue or pause weight loss treatment over Christmas, chat to your doctor.

What are the benefits of continuing to take your GLP-1 over Christmas?

You’ve dieted, exercised, overcome the side effects, and finally seen the pounds start dropping on the scale. But suddenly, it’s December, and Christmas is around the corner. It’s an expensive time of year; you’ve even won a box of chocolates in a raffle, and the last thing you want to do is dampen the festive spirit because of a weight loss injection/suppressed appetite.

It can be tempting to put your treatment on hold, but keeping up with weight loss injections during the holidays has its advantages. Here are a few key benefits:

Maintaining progress


Taking a break from your weight loss journey can jeopardise your progress. To strike a good balance between your health goals and the seasonal indulgences, look for compromises.

When planning your grocery trip, try and stick to foods that fit your dietary needs. Allow yourself the occasional treat, but opt for one that's lower in sugar, fats and calories where possible. If you’re prone to impulse buying, shopping online might help.

Try to cook as much as you can at home. This gives you control over ingredients, making it easier to adapt meals to your diet.

Be mindful of your calorie intake during the holidays. You don’t need to completely avoid certain foods; simply choose smaller portions or healthier options, such as by including more lean protein and vegetables in your Christmas dinner. It’s best to avoid items like casseroles as they tend to be high in fats and calories. By making these mindful choices, you can enjoy the festive fun without derailing your progress.

And if you do have an off day, don't be too hard on yourself. Keep your long-term goals in mind, and get back on track with your diet and exercise routine.

Reduced holiday food noise

‘Food noise’ refers to the intrusive thoughts you hear about food, such as how much to eat and when to eat. Everyone can have food noise, but for people with obesity, it can be more intense, which can lead to unhealthy food habits and struggles when dieting.

During Christmas, it can be even harder to stay on track with your diet. Staying on your weight loss medication can help reduce this food noise , making it easier to control your diet. It acts as a food deterrent by suppressing your appetite and increasing satiety.

Feeling good

After a large meal, it’s common to feel sluggish, tired, or uncomfortable. While indulging can provide temporary satisfaction, it often leads to energy slumps.

GLP-1s can help you recognise your fullness cues earlier, helping you to avoid overeating. This can make you feel better both physically and mentally.

What are the risks of pausing weight loss injections over the festive period?

Taking a break from your treatment isn’t usually recommended. That’s because stopping Wegovy, Zepbound, or Saxenda without the guidance of your doctor can carry risks.

Weight gain

GLP-1s need to be taken weekly for them to work best. When you pause your treatment, you’re at risk of gaining back the weight you’ve lost, especially if you fall into unhealthy food habits.

In a Wegovy clinical study, people who stopped treatment regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost after 50 weeks. Any cardiovascular improvements also reversed as the weight returned. Likewise, those who stopped using tirzepatide (Zepbound) had an average weight gain of 14%.

GLP-1s turn off hunger signals. This suppresses your appetite and increases satiety – meaning you’ll feel fuller for longer. When you stop taking it, these signals are turned on again and your appetite and cravings will increase. These hunger singles can feel more intense when you stop suddenly, especially during Christmas when there’s a lot of rich food around. It’s best to gradually taper off your dose to give yourself a better chance of maintaining the lost weight.

Experiencing side effects

Typically, when you stop taking GLP-1s, you’ll slowly reduce the dosage. This is to help you avoid side effects and withdrawal symptoms like weight gain, increased appetite, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure. These symptoms may make you feel worse than if you had continued using them.

When you stop Zepbound, there’s a higher risk of getting side effects due to its dual effect mechanism, compared to Wegovy or Saxenda. But this risk will differ for each individual depending on how their body reacts.

Difficulty restarting

Restarting weight loss injections can be challenging, especially if you slip into unhealthy food habits. You’ll need to go through the process you did when you started the first time around. This means potential side effects, as well as re-finding the mental and physical commitment.

Your doctor may also restart your treatment at a lower dose than where you left off, slowing your progress down. This is to help your body readjust to the medicine. But it can be frustrating noticing that the treatment isn’t as effective as it previously was. And it may take several weeks for it to reach maximum effectiveness again.

Additionally, the body may adapt to the treatment over time, meaning a previously effective dose may feel less potent now. This is why it’s best to maintain your current dose throughout Christmas.

What are your options?

You have a few choices for managing your weight loss treatment over the holidays. If you’re uncertain, speak to your prescribing doctor; they’ll be able to help. 

Consider the best GLP-1 for you

If you think you’ll start and stop treatment or change your dose frequently, Saxenda might be the better option. This is because Saxenda contains all dose strengths in one pen, giving you more flexibility when adjusting the dose. Unlike Wegovy or Zepbound, which require a new pen for each dose change, you can change the dose instantly with Saxenda. But you should always contact your doctor before changing the dose yourself. 

Continue with weight loss injections

We’ve listed the benefits of staying on weight loss injections over the holidays. While you may want to continue with it, it can be challenging to balance it with your budget or your lifestyle. 

To save costs, consider staying on your current dose instead of increasing to the next one, or switching to a lower maintenance dose like 1.7 mg dose rather than the 2.4 mg for Wegovy or the 10 mg maintenance dose instead of 12.5 mg and 15 mg dose for Zepbound. Although this may affect your progress, it can make it more affordable for you.

If you’re struggling to manage your side effects, maintain your current dose to minimize them or consider lowering the dose if the side effects are severe. Avoid increasing your dose until after the festive period.

If you’re travelling over Christmas, consider remaining on your current dose instead of moving to the next one to prevent potential side effects on the move. 

You can discuss any of these options with your doctor. 

Staying on a weight loss injection during Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It’s a great time to develop a healthier relationship with food. Instead of thinking of dieting as boring, miserable, or restrictive, think of it as practising control and moderation — you can still enjoy holiday treats just in smaller amounts.

Begin your weight loss journey in the new year

If you’ve not started your weight loss journey yet, consider waiting till the new year to start. This lets you enjoy the festivities without restriction, so you can fully commit to your health goals in the new year.

In the meantime, you could research Wegovy, Zepbound, or Saxenda to find out which is the best option for you, and prepare yourself for a fresh healthy start. Look into gyms, exercise options, and foods that align with your diet. 

Set yourself up for success

It’s up to you whether you decide to continue or pause your Wegovy treatment during the holidays. Although it’s best to continue to maintain your progress, this option may not be feasible for everyone. Before making a final decision, make sure to consult with your doctor.

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