The maintenance phase starts when your focus shifts from losing weight to keeping it off. It means you can continue treatment, even if you’ve reached a healthy weight – meaning a BMI of 25 or lower.

This might mean:

• Continuing the healthy changes you’ve already made, but at a slower and more manageable pace
• Staying on your current treatment dose
• Lowering your dose with advice from your doctor
• Tapering off treatment gradually
• Stopping treatment completely
• Restarting treatment later, if needed

The right approach depends on your health, your progress, and your confidence in managing weight without support.

What treatment options are available?

The main goal of this phase is to find what works for you, and there are a range of options. This means that weight maintenance treatment can involve:

• continuing on your current dose
• lowering your dose
• increasing your dose, if your doctor recommends it
• tapering off gradually
• stopping treatment straight away
• restarting treatment later if weight returns

Everyone’s journey is different, and maintenance gives you time and space to make choices that suit your lifestyle and needs.

The maintenance phase of treatment is not the same for everybody, what works for one person may not work for a different person. Personalising your treatment to maintain your weight can help you find what works for you and your weight management in the long term.

For example, you may choose to:

Not everyone chooses to maintain their weight with medication. Weight loss medication can help facilitate your weight loss so that you can keep in control of it as you build on lifestyle choices beneficial for your long-term health.

You might want to continue medication if you:

• are worried about regaining weight
• need more time to build diet and exercise routines

If you choose to continue treatment with medication to maintain your weight loss, our doctors can review your eligibility. If you are, you can choose whether to continue, adjust, or taper off. Alternatively, you may not feel weight loss medication is right for you and you may like to stop treatment altogether.

However you choose to go forward, your Asda Online Doctor is here to support you.

Our service is here to make the maintenance phase safe and straightforward. Our doctors can:

• confirm if your chosen dose is right for you
• make sure treatment is still safe for you
• review your progress regularly
• give you advice on tapering or stopping treatment

We can also support you with advice on diet, activity, and lifestyle changes.

What happens if I stop taking weight loss medication?

When you stop, you may notice: more frequent cravings, stronger appetite or ‘food noise’, gradual changes as the medication leaves your system.

These changes can make weight maintenance harder. Some people manage well with lifestyle changes alone, while others decide to continue treatment for longer.

Can I stop taking weight loss medication right away?

It’s safe to stop taking weight loss medication straight away, and you can stop at any time. Stopping treatment suddenly won’t cause withdrawal symptoms. The medication leaves your system slowly, so any changes to your appetite will happen over a few weeks.

If you’re ready to stop, you can simply finish your current dose and not request more. You can always restart later if needed, with your doctor’s approval.

Some people prefer to taper their dose gradually. Both options are safe.

Can I keep the weight off without medication?

Yes, many people maintain their weight with balanced eating and regular exercise. If you feel confident managing cravings and habits on your own, you may choose to stop treatment.

If you find that cravings return or you struggle to maintain weight, you might decide to restart treatment.

Should I consider tapering off treatment?

If you want to move away from treatment more gradually, tapering off can be a good option. By lowering your dose step by step, you can:

• ease into managing appetite without medication
• give yourself time to test whether lifestyle changes alone are enough
• reduce cravings more gradually

Can I restart treatment later?

Yes. If you try maintaining your weight without medication and find it difficult, you can restart. If it has been more than two weeks since your last injection, you’ll usually need to start again from the lowest dose.

Can weight loss injections be used long term?

Yes. Weight loss injections are safe for long-term use, but treatment must be monitored by a doctor. If you have been using weight loss injections for a long time and they are no longer effective, speak to your doctor.

At Asda Online Doctor, we’ll check regularly that your medication is still safe and effective for you.

Start your maintenance phase once you’re at, or near, your goal weight and ready to focus on keeping the progress you’ve made.

If you’re wondering whether it’s the right time for you to start your maintenance phase, ask yourself:

• Has my weight stabilised?
• Have I made eating and exercise part of my routine?
• Has my focus shifted from losing weight to keeping it off?
• Do I feel ready to work on long-term health?

You’ll still need doctor approval, but these are good signs you’re ready to move into the maintenance phase.

Your maintenance dose depends on:

• how well you tolerate treatment
• your appetite and cravings
• your side effects, if any
• your level of activity
• your budget for treatment

For as long as treatment is safe and helpful. Everyone’s journey is different. Our doctors will let you know if it’s time to adjust or stop treatment.

If you regain weight after stopping, you may be able to restart treatment. Our doctors will review:

• your BMI
• how long it has been since you stopped treatment
• how well you tolerated treatment before
• your current lifestyle
• your health history

Weight regain is common, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. We can help you get back on track safely. We’re here to help build your confidence during your weight loss journey, no matter where you are at.

Reaching the maintenance phase is an achievement in itself.

We’re here to help you not only reach your goal, but maintain it safely and confidently.

Find out all about maintenance dosages for Wegovy and Mounjaro in our guides.

• Wegovy Maintenance Dose
• Mounjaro Maintenance Dose