A 93kg Journalist's Mounjaro Experience: What Happens After Stopping the Medication [Mounjaro Report] ⑥

93 kg Reporter’s Mounjaro Experience (After 12 Weeks)
Lost 6.8 kg in 3 Months, Regained 3 kg Afterward
Rebound Is Common... Daily Exercise and Meal Diary Are Essential

Editor's NoteThe path to treating obesity, a longstanding challenge in the medical field, is opening up. This is thanks to the emergence of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) class medications, which influence satiety and appetite suppression. The recently launched 'Mounjaro' in Korea is a dual agonist of GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1, demonstrating greater weight loss effects compared to existing therapies and evolving as a treatment for complex metabolic diseases such as diabetes and MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). However, caution is needed against the societal trend of abusing these medications for mere cosmetic purposes or misperceiving them as 'miracle weight loss injections.' This series was planned as a six-part (12-week) feature, in which a journalist diagnosed with severe obesity personally undergoes the treatment process, documenting the effects, side effects, and lifestyle changes, with the aim of encouraging proper use of obesity medications and consideration for a healthier life. Not everyone will experience the same effects from Mounjaro as the journalist did. Readers considering obesity medications, which may involve side effects, should always consult a physician.

During 12 weeks of Mounjaro administration, I lost about 7 kilograms. My weight dropped from 93.1 kilograms on September 7 last year to 86.3 kilograms by the end of November. Most of the weight loss was due to a reduction in body fat, which decreased from 33.8 kilograms to 29.7 kilograms. Skeletal muscle mass remained relatively stable, fluctuating only about 1 kilogram from 33.6 kilograms to 32.6 kilograms. However, even though I attempted a so-called 'soft landing' by gradually reducing the dose and frequency at the end of the treatment, as the drug's effect diminished, hunger and appetite returned, and my food intake in daily life increased almost imperceptibly. About two months after stopping Mounjaro, I regained approximately 3 kilograms.

Lost 7kg, Gained Back 3kg in an Instant... Even with Weight Gain, Less Increase in Visceral Fat

The sense of disappointment was significant when my weight started to climb again, despite spending a considerable amount of money, time, and effort to change my lifestyle. Park Kyungmin, director of Seongsu Melting Clinic and advisor for the 'Mounjaro Report,' said, "Of course, if you stop taking obesity medications, weight regain (yo-yo effect) will occur," but added, "The question is not 'if' but 'how much.' The process of ending treatment is itself an extension of the treatment."

It is known that about half of the lost weight is regained after stopping Mounjaro. In a phase 3 clinical trial of Mounjaro conducted over 52 weeks, adult patients with obesity or overweight experienced an average weight regain of 9.1% (10mg group) and 12.3% (15mg group) during the 26 weeks following the end of treatment. Waist circumference also increased by 2.9 centimeters and 5.5 centimeters, respectively, confirming the 'rebound' effect.

However, compared to before starting the clinical trial, there was still a net weight loss of 8.7% in the 10mg group and 10.6% in the 15mg group, with waist circumference reductions of 10.5 centimeters and 10.6 centimeters maintained. This suggests that the reduction in waist circumference, or visceral fat, achieved with Mounjaro does not return as easily as expected. This is significant for long-term health. Visceral fat around the liver, pancreas, and blood vessels causes inflammation and hormonal disturbances, increasing insulin resistance and worsening blood sugar, triglycerides, and blood pressure simultaneously. Therefore, even if overall weight does not increase significantly, having a high amount of visceral fat raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as fatty liver and diabetes. The key to sustainable outcomes after obesity medication treatment, including Mounjaro, is to maintain control over one's body so that even if rebound weight gain occurs, it does not lead to a collapse in health indicators.

Gradually Increase Dosing Intervals for a 'Soft Landing'... Food Diary and Lifestyle Barriers Are Essential

For sustainable health management, it is necessary to gradually taper off obesity medications through a 'soft landing' (stabilization without abrupt changes). Director Park recommends increasing the dosing interval-extending weekly injections to every ten days, then to every fourteen days, and monitoring the progress. Theoretically, effectiveness should drop to about 50% when dosing every two weeks, but some studies have shown over 70% efficacy. The goal is to decelerate rather than stop abruptly, maintaining appetite control and lifestyle changes.

Just as important as a soft landing, Director Park emphasizes keeping a 'food diary.' When the medication is discontinued, appetite quietly returns-less as dramatic binge eating and more as subtle increases in bites, extra snacks, or more frequent late-night meals. The problem is that these changes are hard to detect through intuition alone. Park says, "To prevent unconscious overeating after stopping injections, you must keep a food diary to record and objectively assess your intake." In sustainable health management, a food diary is a tool for self-control. To identify the causes of post-medication weight gain, documentation is essential.

He also stresses that physical activity can be sufficiently increased in daily life. Park explains, "You don't have to exercise like an athlete. Increase daily activity by taking the stairs, parking farther away, or moving every 30 minutes. If you make physical activity the default in your routine, you can prevent drastic weight spikes even on days you skip formal exercise."

It is also important to set up 'barriers' throughout your environment. Park does not see behavior modification as a matter of willpower. He cites research by American nutritionist Brian Wansink: if candy is in a clear bowl on your desk, you eat nine pieces a day; if it's in the next room, you eat just one. Out of sight, out of mind. The key to reducing rebound weight gain is not to "forbid eating," but to "make eating more difficult."

Park's final advice is not to treat obesity management as a 'solo project.' He says, "If you are told to walk 1 kilometer straight east in the middle of a desert, most people can't even make it 100 meters. You need someone to check if you are on the right path and following the milestones. Regular body composition analysis, such as with an InBody device, and consulting with a physician are important steps in setting your direction."