New year is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. But for the many people now taking GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, the PARTY season brings unique challenges that nobody seems to talk about.
It’s that perfect storm of physical, psychological and social hurdles – it’s not just about not wanting canapes or a New Year cocktail, it’s about navigating friends’ and family dynamics around those food and drink choices you’re making – and dealing with unsolicited comments about your body. (And no, the answer is definitely not to skip a jab, more on that later.)
Together with psychologist Dr Courtney Raspin, I’ve spent the past few months writing a book on these revolutionary medications – and here is some practical advice that I hope will help you not just survive, but actually enjoy, the festive season and carry on into the New Year with your weight-loss success.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL ANYONE ANYTHING
Assuming the jabs are working for you, one of the most emotionally challenging aspects of visible weight loss is suddenly finding your body has become public property for commentary – especially if over this festive season you’re seeing people for the first time in a while.
The questions come thick and fast: How much have you lost? What’s your secret? Are you on that new medication?
The same people who wouldn’t dream of asking about your antidepressant dose if you were taking one, somehow feel entitled to detailed information about your weight management.
This constant commentary can feel deeply invasive and exhausting. Many people describe feeling as though their body has suddenly become public property.
A box of Mounjaro, a tirzepatide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes
Dr Max Pemberton has spent the past few months writing a book on revolutionary weight loss medications and has practical advice on surviving the festive season
There’s often an underlying implication that your weight was previously a problem you should have solved, which can trigger feelings of shame about your past self.
Other people can feel their achievement is being reduced to a topic for gossip.
The bottom line is, your medical choices and body changes are private information: you don’t have to tell anyone you’re taking these medications. You don’t have to reveal how much weight you’ve lost or what your ‘goal weight’ is. You also don’t have to justify your portion sizes.
But it helps to have some phrases ready. For invasive questions about numbers or methods, try: ‘I appreciate your interest, but I’m trying not to focus too much on numbers these days’, or simply ‘I’d rather not discuss the details of my health choices’.
When people ask specifically about medication, you might say: ‘I’m using all the tools available to support my health’, or ‘there’s no single secret, just focusing on my overall wellbeing’.
Sometimes the most powerful response is the simplest one: a brief ‘thank you’, followed immediately by changing the subject.
Remember, you don’t need to justify why you’re keeping information private – privacy is a right.
THE WARDROBE CRISIS
If you’re losing weight, there’s a good chance that the party outfit you planned to wear no longer fits.
Few things are more stressful than standing in front of your wardrobe on the morning of an event, discovering that nothing looks right.
My advice? Plan ahead. Find two simple, smart outfits that fit you now. They don’t need to be expensive. Having go-to outfits removes one source of stress.
PREPARE FOR NO LONGER BEING ‘THE FUNNY, FAT ONE’
If you’ve been ‘the funny, fat friend’ or used self-deprecating humour about your size for years, who are you when that reference point disappears?
People like consistency. They put us in boxes. When you appear to change, it can unsettle those around you.
Some family members or friends you’ve not seen for a while may respond with what looks like jealousy or hostility. Your transformation can hold up an uncomfortable mirror to others about their own choices and struggles.
Remember that your core self hasn’t changed with your body size.
You’re the same person, simply navigating a new relationship with how you present in the world.
So how do you handle this?
First, recognise that their reaction is about them, not you. Try not to take the bait if someone makes pointed comments. A neutral response such as ‘I’m just focusing on my health’ gives them nothing to push against.
If the hostility persists, it may be worth having a private conversation: ‘I’ve noticed things feel a bit different between us lately. Is everything okay?’ Sometimes naming the elephant in the room can defuse the tension.
Why does this matter? Because these social dynamics can derail your progress.
If you feel guilty about your success or start avoiding certain people, you may unconsciously sabotage yourself to restore the familiar equilibrium.
Understanding that this is a common, temporary adjustment period helps you stay the course rather than letting others’ discomfort dictate your choices.
DEALING WITH COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR BODY
Whether you’ve lost significant weight or are just starting out, be prepared for comments.
Some will be complimentary in ways that feel uncomfortable, such as ‘you look amazing! I barely recognised you!’ or ‘you must feel so much better about yourself now’.
These comments, though well intentioned, carry an implicit judgment: that you were somehow lesser before.
If someone pays you a compliment and you want to redirect away from appearance, try shifting to function: ‘Thanks, I’m really enjoying having more energy’, or ‘the best part is my knees don’t hurt when I climb stairs anymore’.
Others might be critical, particularly if you haven’t lost as much as people expect.
Comments can bring up previous trauma or difficult feelings about your body.
One patient told me about her aunt who said, ‘Sarah, you’re having seconds? I thought you were on those injections and being so good with your eating!’ The comment hit her hard. Shame flooded in immediately.
But here’s what I told her: enjoying two slices of cake or tucking into the canapes at a special occasion isn’t failure. It’s life.
If you anticipate difficult relatives, consider asking a trusted friend or family member to be your ally. They can step in, change the subject, or simply provide moral support.
DON’T FORCE YOUSELF TO OVERINDULGE
The weight-loss injections slow gastric emptying: food moves more slowly through your digestive system. If you push through your lack of appetite and eat more than your body wants, you’re likely to feel unwell: nausea, vomiting, and significant discomfort are common when people on these medications overeat. Listen to your body. If you’re full, stop.
No amount of social pressure is worth spending the evening feeling dreadful.
The problem is compounded by the way in many families – even amongst friends – food is love. When you’re on these medications and genuinely not hungry, declining food can feel like rejecting the person who prepared it. This is especially true with older relatives.
Consider speaking to the host beforehand. Ask if the meal could be buffet-style rather than plated portions. This gives you control over what – and how much – you eat.
And remember, food that’s past the point of nourishing you is waste, whether it goes in your body or in the actual bin. Eating past fullness ‘not to waste food’ is still a form of waste. It’s just using your body as the bin.
THE ALCOHOL QUESTION
An interesting side-effect of GLP-1 weight-loss injections is that alcohol can lose its appeal. In the same way these drugs reduce the effect cakes and chocolate have on the reward pathways of the brain, they seem to do the same for alcohol.
If you’d rather not explain why you’re not drinking, have an alternative in hand. A sparkling water with lime looks celebratory enough for New Year, and nobody needs to know it’s not a gin and tonic.
If people push, don’t forget: you don’t owe anyone an explanation. ‘I’m taking it easy tonight’ is a complete sentence.
It’s also worth noting that drinking too much while on these injections increases the risk of low blood sugar levels. Alcohol interferes with your liver’s ability to release glucose into your bloodstream; combined with the blood sugar lowering effects of GLP-1 medications, and the fact that you’re likely to be eating less, this can leave you feeling dizzy, shaky, sweaty and confused. In more severe cases, it can cause you to faint.
Not exactly the New Year’s Eve anyone has in mind.
RE-GIFT THOSE WELL-MEANING FOOD GIFTS
Have you been given boxes of chocolates, biscuits and other food gifts? People who don’t know about your medication, or who haven’t quite adjusted to your changing relationship with food, may present you with treats you no longer want or can comfortably eat.
Re-gift them, take them to work or simply give them away. You’re not obligated to eat something just because it was given to you with kind intentions.
MANAGING YOUR ENERGY
People on GLP-1s often feel more tired than usual, particularly if they’re now eating less. The festive season is already exhausting: the socialising, the travelling, the late nights – then top that off with New Year’s Eve. Be realistic about what you can manage.
It’s perfectly acceptable to leave a party early, to take a quiet moment away from the chaos, or to decline an invitation altogether. Protecting your energy isn’t antisocial. It’s sensible.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO SKIP YOUR INJECTION
Something I hear time and again when people are confronted with social situations that revolve around food, especially at this time of year, is that they’re planning to skip their injection so they can ‘properly enjoy’ the food and drink.
I call this the ‘Maldives Mindset’, after a patient who wanted to stop her medication before an all-inclusive holiday to ‘get her money’s worth’.
Here was someone visiting one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, yet when she thought about value, her mind immediately went to unlimited eating. It revealed how food had become the primary lens through which she measured enjoyment: food had become a disproportionate source of pleasure and value in life.
Part of the work these GLP-1s enable is rediscovering that there are other sources of joy and satisfaction beyond what’s on your plate. Skipping your injection to ‘make the most’ of food is really just reinforcing the old patterns you’re trying to break free from.
There’s a more important reason not to skip your medication, though.
These drugs offer what we call ‘symptom interruption’ – providing a temporary respite from the constant food noise that many people with weight problems experience.
These medications have a relatively long half-life, meaning they stay in your system for a while. Skipping one dose won’t see an immediate return to how things were before. But within a few days, as the drug levels drop, you’ll likely notice the familiar food noise creeping back: the cravings getting louder, the portion sizes harder to control, the mental preoccupation with food returning.
Your reward pathways, which have been given a period of calm, start firing up again. The biological drive toward high-calorie foods reasserts itself. For some people, this can feel quite dramatic after weeks or months of relative peace around food.
This quiet period free from food noise isn’t just about losing weight: it’s an opportunity to learn new patterns, to navigate social situations differently, while the biological noise is turned down.
The festive season, with all its food – and drink – focused gatherings, is actually an ideal time to practise these new skills with the medication’s support. If you skip your injection, you miss this learning opportunity and the chance to succeed on your weight-loss path in 2026.
There’s also a practical consideration: when you restart medication, particularly at higher doses, the side-effects often return. The nausea and digestive discomfort can come flooding back.
Is that really worth it for an extra helping of roast potatoes?
This time of year can be complicated at the best of times. But remember that you’re doing something positive for your health.
Be patient with family members and friends who don’t understand. Set boundaries where you need to.
And above all, remember that one day, or even one meal, doesn’t define your journey. Have a peaceful NEW YEAR. You should be proud of what youre achieving for your weight – and health.
– The Weight Loss Prescription by Dr Max Pemberton and Dr Courtney Raspin (Thorsons, £16.99) is out on 26th February. To pre order go to:
