The GLP-1 Legacy

Life After Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro

Over recent years, GLP-1 medications have transformed the treatment of obesity. For many individuals, they have delivered levels of weight loss and appetite control that were previously difficult to achieve, reducing hunger and turning down the constant focus on food. However, a key phase of treatment receives far less attention. What happens when the medication stops?

For many, this is where the real challenge begins. Appetite returns, food becomes more compelling, and maintaining weight loss requires significantly more behavioural effort. The support that made weight loss feel manageable is no longer in place.

The Gap in Support

In clinical guidance, GLP-1 treatments are intended to be supported by behavioural and lifestyle input alongside the medication. In practice, however, that level of structured support is often limited or, in some cases, almost non-existent.

Many users are left to navigate the transition off the medication with very little assistance, often turning to the internet for answers. This is reflected in the tens of thousands of daily searches globally on this topic. This gap was one of the key reasons behind the research and writing of The GLP-1 Legacy.

About The GLP-1 Legacy

The GLP-1 Legacy was written to address the phase that follows GLP-1 treatment, when medication is reduced or stopped, and the responsibility for maintaining weight loss shifts back to the individual. Drawing on more than 15,000 hours of clinical work in behavioural weight management, Martin and Marion Shirran examine the psychological and behavioural factors that influence how results are sustained once GLP-1 medication is stopped. The book focuses on the transition from medically supported weight loss to self-managed maintenance.

What the Book Explores

The book addresses the questions most frequently raised by individuals following GLP-1 treatment:

• What changes when appetite returns?
• Why does weight regain occur after stopping medication?
• What behavioural patterns influence long-term outcomes?
• How can weight loss be maintained without ongoing medication?

It also introduces emerging approaches such as tapering and microdosing strategies, helping readers think more carefully about how they transition away from medication, rather than stopping abruptly without a plan. The book explores the interaction among biology, behaviour and the environment, and outlines practical approaches to sustaining progress.

Clinical Perspective

The book includes a foreword by Professor Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, whose work has significantly contributed to the understanding of eating behaviour and long-term weight management. Her involvement provides an academic perspective on the behavioural challenges associated with weight maintenance after GLP-1 treatment.

Why Maintenance Matters

GLP-1 medications can be highly effective in supporting weight loss. However, they do not in themselves establish the habits, routines or cognitive patterns required for long-term maintenance. When medication is reduced or withdrawn, appetite returns and the behavioural drivers that influenced eating before treatment often reappear. Without preparation, many former users find themselves managing the same challenges as before, but now without the support of the medication. This is where weight regain most often begins.

Understanding and preparing for this post-GLP-1 phase is central to maintaining outcomes and protecting the progress that has already been achieved. This site provides an overview of The GLP-1 Legacy, including a detailed introduction to the authors and an expanded synopsis. It is intended to offer both individuals and healthcare professionals a clear understanding of the behavioural challenges associated with maintaining weight loss after GLP-1 treatment.

For clinicians working within limited consultation time, the book offers a practical resource that patients can engage with independently, particularly during the transition off medication. It is increasingly being recommended by healthcare professionals as a way of supporting patients beyond prescribing, especially at the point where behavioural strategies become critical to maintaining results.

Intended Audience

This site and the book are intended for:

• individuals who are using or have used GLP-1 medications and wish to maintain their weight loss
• healthcare professionals seeking a behaviourally informed resource to support patients during and after treatment

FDA

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that GLP-1 receptor agonist weight-loss medications be prescribed in conjunction with a behavioural change programme. The FDA’s approach aims to ensure that patients not only lose weight but also adopt healthier lifestyle habits, which is crucial for maintaining their weight loss in the long term. This regulatory stance underscores the necessity of a comprehensive treatment plan, as detailed on the pages of this website

NICE

Similarly, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom advocates a multifaceted approach to weight management. NICE recommends that weight-loss medications be integrated into a comprehensive weight management programme. The Guidance from Nice emphasises the importance of addressing obesity through a holistic and sustainable approach, aiming to deliver long-term health benefits and improved quality of life for patients. Marion Shirran, the co-founder of Oxford Therapeutics Ltd and the co-author of The GLP-1 Legacy, is a NICE stakeholder and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.

 

Contact us

You can contact Martin and Marion Shirran by email or telephone:

You can email us directly at mmshirran@gmail.com

Alternatively, you can call the office on +44 203 769 5692 or in Spain on +34 951 311 591

Media and TV/Film enquiries oxfordtherapeuticsltd@gmail.com

For all press enquiries, please contact: martinfshirran@gmail.com

Please visit the contact page for email or telephone details.