Millions are currently using weight-loss jabs, but experts have warned they may be more likely to develop a troubling side effect.
The likes of Mounjaro could be causing loose skin – which can appear stretched, saggy or wrinkled because it has lost its firmness.
It is an unfortunate trade-off for losing weight quickly, but some have chosen to embrace it.
Last week, weight-loss influencer Lexi Reed, 34, who is ‘covered in loose skin’, said she still wears her swimsuit with pride.
This is because her skin tells ‘a story of the battles I’ve faced and won’.
Some 1.5million people use weight-loss jabs through the NHS or private clinics, with millions more eligible.
With so many now facing developing saggy skin, we asked seven experts how to prevent it.
Why is it more likely for those on the jabs?
Not all the experts agreed weight-loss jabs make loose skin more likely.
Kiran Jones, of Oxford Online Pharmacy, said: ‘There isn’t really a direct connection between weight-loss jabs and loose skin.’
Weight-loss influencer Lexi Reed still wears her swimsuit with pride despite her loose skin
The problem isn’t necessarily the jabs themselves, said the experts, but rather the rapid speed at which those on them lose the weight.
‘Unlike traditional weight loss over time, these medications create dramatic reductions in fat volume quickly, leaving insufficient time to remodel,’ said Dr Tijion Esho, a cosmetic doctor aesthetician.
This was particularly the case for those who already had ‘lower skin elasticity’, such as the elderly, Dr Esho explained.
Loss of skin elasticity is a natural part of the ageing process, he added, making skin look saggy, crinkled or leathery.
What other factors make you more likely to have loose skin?
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle choices can also put you at a higher risk of developing loose skin.
These include smoking, sun exposure, poor nutrition and dehydration, according to Dr Esho.
This is because they ‘accelerate collagen breakdown and impair skin elasticity’, said Dr Tina Tian, of Stratum Dermatology Clinic Oxford.
Genetics
Genetics can play an important role as well, suggests Hazim Sadideen, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic.
He said: ‘People inherit differences in collagen density and quality, which directly affect elasticity.
‘Those with inherently less robust collagen fibres are more prone to sagging.’
This includes Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, which can cause joint hypermobility, stretchy skin, fragile blood vessels and bruising.
Experts revealed genetics are a big factor in why some might develop loose or sagging skin
Time it takes to shed the pounds
How long you’ve had the excess weight also plays a role, according to Dr Sheila Li, an expert in aesthetic medicine and founder of Mediject.
‘People who have carried excess weight for a long time may also have more stretched or damaged skin,’ she said.
Ayesha Bashir, a pharmacist at Chemist4U, added: ‘The longer you’ve lived with obesity, the more likely you are to have loose skin.
‘This is because your skin stretches to accommodate the extra fat, and over time the fibres that keep it firm and stretchy – such as collagen and elastin – get worn out or damaged.
‘When these fibres weaken, it’s harder for your skin to shrink back after weight loss, leaving it loose.’
Amount of fat you lose
The total amount of weight loss can also be a factor, but this differs from person to person.
‘Shedding a large volume of fat dramatically reduces the underlying support structure, leaving excess skin,’ Mr Sadideen explained.
‘It also depends on the amount of muscle these people have, and the amount of exercise they may perform.’
But Dr David Jack, an aesthetics specialist, was willing to give a rough estimate.
The amount of fat you have before you start losing weight is also a factor to be considered
‘Typically, those who experience noticeable loose skin [tend to] have lost at least 15 to 20 per cent of their starting body weight,’ he said.
And in terms of body mass index (BMI), he said: ‘There’s no hard cut-off, but most cases involve a drop of more than five to eight BMI points.’
Meanwhile, Dr Esho offered a slightly different figure – suggesting losing more than 20 to 25 per cent of your body mass in a short time is likely to cause loose skin.
Being a woman
Simply being a woman can increase your chances of loose skin, some experts claim.
Dr Li said: ‘Women tend to have thinner skin and lower collagen density than men, which make skin laxity more noticeable, particularly on the face and neck.’
And Dr Jack added: ‘In general, women are more affected than men because they have thinner dermis at the starting point and a higher fat-to muscle ratio.’
But he said: ‘Older men are certainly not immune.’
The elderly are more likely to develop loose skin as they naturally have lower elasticity
The menopause
Post-menopausal women are more at risk, Dr Jack said, as they have more laxity – a loss of firmness in the skin.
This is because women have less oestrogen – a reproductive hormone – after going through the menopause.
This reduction can increase your chances of loose skin as ‘oestrogen helps maintain skin quality and collagen production’, he explained.
Basal metabolic rate
Another possible factor Dr Jack highlighted is your BMR – the number of calories your body burns while resting to maintain essential functions such as breathing.
He added : ‘BMR affects how easily someone loses weight, but it also correlates with lean muscle mass.
‘A low BMR often means less muscle, which makes sagging more likely as there’s less structural support under the skin.
‘On the other hand, a higher BMR – often due to more muscle – helps preserve tone as weight drops.
‘So keeping your BMR up by retaining muscle is a part of the skin-preserving puzzle.’
Is there anything you can actually do to prevent loose skin?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent loose skin entirely, most of the experts said.
But almost all warned that shedding the pounds too quickly can lead to the condition.
Ideally, pharmacist Kiran Jones said, ‘a healthy pace is around 2 per cent of your total body weight per week or less’.
The experts also suggested diet and exercise tricks, many of which you can try at home, which could help.
Hydration
A piece of advice given by many of the experts was staying hydrated, which is important generally.
While there are limited studies on its direct ability to prevent loose skin, it is thought to increase skin elasticity.
This was highlighted by Mr Sadideen, who said: ‘Staying well hydrated is crucial for maintaining skin elasticity.’
Sleep
It is also important to get enough sleep. Dr Esho said: ‘Adequate sleep supports skin regeneration.’
Diet
The experts recommended a healthy, balanced diet rich in protein, healthy fats and antioxidants.
If you are trying to lose weight, you might not realise you actually need healthy fats.
Mr Sadideen claimed these healthy fats support the production of collagen, which can prevent loose skin.
He added that diets should include collagen peptides and micronutrients, such as vitamin C, which are ‘essential for collagen production’.
The experts recommended a healthy diet rich in protein, healthy fats and antioxidants
These collagen peptides – which are essentially broken-down collagen – can be found in beef, chicken, fish and bone broth.
Vitamin C, which also comes as a supplement, can be found in a simple glass of orange juice.
In terms of protein, Dr Jack recommended consuming around 1.2g per kg of your ideal body weight each day.
Meanwhile, antioxidants – substances that prevent cell damage – can be found in fruits and vegetables such as spinach, kale, blueberries and strawberries.
Exercise
Many exercises the experts suggested included regular resistance and strength training to help build muscle.
‘Incorporating regular strength training into a fitness routine helps maintain and build muscle,’ said Mr Sadideen.
This, he explained ‘helps maintain a supportive structure under the skin’.
‘Building and maintaining muscle through resistance training is key – this gives the skin something to contour to,’ added Dr Jack.
But if you’re new to exercise it can be important to find fun ways of getting into it, such as dance workouts, said weight-loss coach Adam Johnston.
