OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader whose weight loss has stalled.
Q: I’VE lost more than 6st in the past four years by not drinking alcohol and eating sensibly.
I had got down to 18st when I had a heart attack four months ago.
I am feeling a lot better but since going back to my diet, I am finding it difficult to lose weight.
I am walking a lot but can’t seem to shift it.
Could the tablets I take be affecting my weight loss efforts?
A: Well done on losing so much weight so far, it’s not easy to do!
As weight reduces, using the same weight-loss methods can be more challenging as your body gets smaller and you burn fewer calories.
One way to combat this is to get stronger and build muscle, which burns a lot of energy, so can help to readdress that declining metabolic rate.
If you feel you would struggle with that, your GP may be able to refer you for some extra support, such as a tier-three weight-management programme.
Injectable weight loss medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are offered by many of these services too, if that is a route you would consider.
Some medications are known to have weight gain side effects, including some diabetes and migraine medications, and antidepressants.
These tend to have an indirect effect, in that they may cause you to have more of an appetite or feel fatigued, so you’re less likely to want to exercise.
But the only medication prescribed for somebody following a heart attack, that stands out is a beta blocker, particularly the old-fashioned ones.
In your case, I think it’s more likely your weight loss has just plateaued.
