HORRENDOUS hangovers are just one of the side effects that people taking fat jabs might experience during Christmas party season.
But some could end up leaving users “absolutely hammered” – even well after your last drink.
Some easy-to-make fat jab mistakes threaten to ruin Christmas this year – here’s how not to fall victimCredit: Getty
More than 1.5million prescriptions for are being issued every month in the UK.
By now, most of us know that they mimic hormones like GLP-1, which help to regulate appetite, slow digestion and make you feel fuller for longer.
On average, users lose about 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight, so they’ve been hailed a miracle for overweight and folk.
But they’re not without risks – some of the most common include nausea, vomiting and constipation – and these afflictions may worsen still if you don’t exercise caution this .
This is especially true when it comes to alcohol, according to Ian Marber, one of the UK’s leading nutritionists and author of The GLP-1 Handbook: Eating Well When Taking Weight Loss Medication, which is out now.
Drawing on 25 years of clinical experience, he writes…
Although very effective, these powerful medications are not without their side effects, which can include nausea, dizziness, , and injection site reactions such as redness or swelling.
Research is ongoing, but as long ago as 2013, the use of GLP medications as a novel approach for treatment of was investigated.
Some people have reported that they don’t fancy booze when taking GLP .
This was backed up in 2021, when research published in the international journal Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience pointed towards the potential use of GLP as a method to treat substance and behavioural addictions, including , tobacco and various stimulants.
If you’re taking GLP-1s, drinking alcohol can affect your body quite a bit and you may want to bear that in mind this December, regardless of how much you drink.
QUIETLY GETTING SLOSHED
GLP slows down the speed at which food and drink pass through the digestive system, which allows us to feel fuller.
While great for , this also means that booze will be absorbed at a slower pace, resulting in a higher level of alcohol staying in your system for longer.
This in turn means that you may feel worse for wear for longer after drinking.
Also, because you eat less when using the medication, there isn’t going to be enough food in your system ‘to soak up the alcohol’.
The end result? There is a chance you will drink too much without realising that you’re getting quietly sloshed.
Alcohol can affect you more if you’re taking GLP-1s, so you might find yourself feeling more drunk than usualCredit: Getty
Without sounding like a party pooper, you really do have to watch your booze intake.
One of my regular clients revealed they were “absolutely hammered” after two glasses of during a recent party.
This might have had almost no effect on you pre jabs, but now, you need to know your limits and adapt your intake and behaviour accordingly.
WORSE SIDE EFFECTS
Alcohol may exacerbate side effects such as nausea and dizziness that some people experience when taking GLP.
If you’re in the early stages of using the medication, it might be best to avoid alcohol altogether, especially if you experience other side effects.
There is a chance that alcohol will make those problems so much worse.
Like GLP, alcohol can cause so it is essential that you drink plenty of other liquids when you’re boozing.
Ideally with a soft one, known as zebra striping.
One of my clients felt over the limit after just three small glasses of wine the night before – luckily she realised before she did the school run
Ian Marber, Nutritionist
Alcohol can reduce levels of glucose in the blood, as the liver is busy processing alcohol at the expense of making glucose.
When combined with the effects of GLP, alcohol can potentially lead to (dangerously low blood sugar levels), the symptoms of which are dizziness, shakiness, lack of concentration and headaches.
Hypoglycemia can be a medical emergency. Call 999 if you think someone has very low blood sugar and they’re not responding or they’re unconscious, especially if they’ve been drinking.
And if you’re planning on partying for the whole of December, be aware.
There is a risk that excessive alcohol consumption can exacerbate sarcopenia, or muscle loss, which is another potential complication of fat jabs.
Enjoy the festive food on offer, but eat little and often to avoid worsening jab side effectsCredit: Getty
MODEST CONSUMPTION
If you choose to drink alcohol while taking GLP medications, try to be modest in your consumption – and be mindful that the alcohol level in your bloodstream may stay elevated for longer.
Another one of my regular clients felt that she was still over the limit the next day after just three small glasses of wine the night before – luckily she realised before she did the school run.
The says adults should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across three or more days.
That’s around six medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or six pints of four per cent beer.
The in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (or 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath).
The law is stricter in Scotland, where the blood limit is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (or 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath).
It isn’t possible to say how many units this is as it will vary from person to person.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT DRINKS
If you’re at a party, exercising caution with the drink choices you make is probably a good idea.
You need to be aware of both strength and volume.
Spirits, because they’re stronger, will cause more issues, but you probably wouldn’t have five vodkas or gin and tonics.
However, it’s very easy to work your way through four or five glasses of wine.
Are you eligible for fat jabs on the NHS?
TO be eligible for , you typically need a high and a number of weight-related health conditions.
A BMI of 40 or more is usually required, or a BMI of 37.5 or more for certain ethnic groups.
For people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds, a lower BMI of 37.5 or higher may be considered due to increased health risks at lower BMI levels within these groups.
Additionally, you must have at least three or four of the following conditions:
- Type 2
- Obstructive
- Abnormal blood fats
These injections are generally provided with a structured weight management programme that includes lifestyle support.
If you’re looking to access weight loss injections on the NHS, discuss your options with your GP.
You should also pay attention to the .
Alcohol slows down the fat-burning process, so if you’re actively still trying to lose weight rather than just maintain it, your medication won’t be as effective at helping you shift the pounds if you’re drinking a lot.
High-calorie alcoholic drinks include cocktails, creamy liqueurs, strong beers and dessert wines, while low-calorie options include vodka, gin, hard seltzers and light beers.
AFTER-PARTY ADVICE
Before you go to bed, try to have some protein and carbs, as well as something sweet.
A date, and cheese on a cracker is ideal – or peanut butter on a rice cake.
If you have overdone it and suffer the next day, try the tried and tested format of lots of fluids, rest and if necessary.
FIRST XMAS ON JABS
People who are having their first Christmas while taking fat jabs might be a little wary about what they are going to eat and drink, but my advice is simple.
The festive season should be a fun time, and for people that still want to be sociable, I would advise them to eat a little of everything.
If you’re in the early stages, then it is very common for very rich foods to induce nausea so avoid those if necessary – or just have a very small amount.
You don’t need to think about favouring or limiting specific foods, just try to have a small amount of the food that you fancy.
You probably won’t want to go back for seconds and for many, it might actually be a liberating time, as perhaps you might not eat and eat until you’re absolutely stuffed – but it doesn’t mean you need to miss out.
Ultimately, it’s the season to eat, drink and be merry and it can be done, if you’re just aware of limitations.
The GLP-1 Handbook: Eating Well When Taking Weight Loss Medication (Piatkus, £16.99) is out now.
How fat jabs work - and how to get maximum results safely
WEIGHT loss jabs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes - and Ozempic is still prescribed for that.
Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are now available on the NHS, along with Saxenda, are licensed for weight management in obese adults (BMI over 30) or those who are overweight (BMI over 27) with related conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
They work by mimicking hormones like GLP-1, which help regulate appetite, slow digestion and make you feel fuller for longer – often leading to dramatic weight loss.
The health benefits can be huge, since obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
But not everyone sees the same results. One common mistake is expecting it to work instantly.
For example, taking it right before a takeaway, special occasion, or big night out in the hope it will stop you from overindulging.
Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy and weight loss expert at Chemist4U, says: “Taking the jab right before a takeaway or party won’t automatically stop you from indulging.
“Weight loss injections need time to build up in your system. They don’t blunt your appetite immediately after injection.
“It usually takes a few days to start feeling a difference, and several weeks for the full effects to settle in.”
Inject your dose mid-week if you plan for a heavier weekend.
Another common error is injecting in the same spot each time.
“People often default to injecting in the same spot over and over, but this can cause local irritation or even small lumps of fat under the skin (lipohypertrophy),” Dr Crystal Wyllie, GP at Asda Online Doctor , explains.
“This can affect how well the medication is absorbed and make it less effective.”
She recommends rotating injection sites between the abdomen, thigh, and upper arm, and even picking different spots within those zones.
And never stop using them suddenly as this can lead to rapid weight gain, Mital Thakrar, a pharmacist from Well Pharmacy, warns.
“There’s a tendency to ditch weight-loss treatments as soon as you reach your desired weight,” he says. “But that’s not our advice.”
A recent University of Oxford study found people typically return to their original weight within 10 months of stopping treatment, especially if lifestyle changes weren’t firmly established.
“Without the appetite suppression, hunger and cravings return quickly,” Mr Thakrar explains.
This includes , which means cutting out junk food and alcohol while increasing and , as well as exercising regularly.
“Building habits like these during treatment is key for sustaining results,” he says.
“Many patients see improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.”
But stopping too soon can reverse these gains if weight creeps back.
Finally, if you’re not seeing results, you might be missing the oldest rule in the book – .
“Dehydration is a common, yet indirect, side effect of weight loss injections,” Dr Wyllie says.
The drugs dull appetite, and in doing so, they can also blunt thirst signals. Yet hydration is crucial for the body to function properly.
“Aim for two to three litres per day, sipping regularly, not just when thirsty,” Dr Wyllie explains.
“Hydration supports metabolism, digestion, and can reduce side effects like headaches, nausea and constipation.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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