Switching from jabs to new daily pill means you're seven-times more likely to maintain weight loss

A daily pill is being developed which aims to keep weight off once someone has lost it, which could potentially shake up the weight loss jab market.

While losing weight is certainly a challenge, many people also struggle with what comes next - the weight coming back.

This can be a problem with dieting, with the weight returning after the diet has ended. There are ways to curb this, such as making smaller incremental lifestyle changes that are easier to maintain long term can be a way to help.

However, GLP-1 drugs have also become very popular for their use in weight loss.

Initially licensed in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes, the medications also have the effect of being an appetite suppressant, making someone feel full sooner than without the treatment.

While GLP-1 medications are mostly administered via injection, there is now a pill being developed to be taken daily to help aid weight loss.

Injections are more unpleasant to take, and can be more difficult with storage, travel, and cost (David Petrus Ibars/Getty)

The pill orforglipron, made by Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly, could help to maintain weight loss over a longer term as a pill is more comfortable to take than an injection.

A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity found that patients who stopped taking the jabs kept off up to 80 percent of their weight loss long-term by switching to pills.

Meanwhile, those on the placebo only kept off 38 percent of the weight.

Looking at patients who were taking semaglutide medications and then switched to orforglipron, 55 percent of them kept off 80 percent of the weight they lost after one year.

Just 6.9 percent of the placebo group kept off that much weight.

So on average, people were 7.97 times more likely to keep most of the weight they lost off while taking orforglipron.

Dr Marie Spreckley, a Research Programme Manager at the University of Cambridge in the UK, told The Sun: “Many people do not want to remain on injectable therapy indefinitely due to treatment burden, convenience, travel, storage requirements, cost, or personal preference."

Orforglipron is not the only weight loss tablet on the market, with Novo Nordisk launching a Wegovy weight loss pill in the US earlier this year.

Sharon Vickers, from South Carolina in the US, was among the first to try out the medication after having gastric sleeve surgery.

"I went straight to the pharmacy, but they had sold out, so I went back a few days later and managed to get them," she said.

The pill may be a better option for people who wish to use it in the longer term (prott/Getty)

"At day five of taking the pills, it shut out food noise completely. I am not snacking as much as I used to; hours could pass by, and I won't even think of food.

"I have no side effects, I workout every day, and have loads of energy - I have lost two lbs so far."

Sharon revealed that she had frequently snacked at home, saying: "I work from home, so it is so easy for me to get up and grab something to eat.

"I ate everything and anything, I did not discriminate with anything, I enjoy all foods and loved everything about food.

"Since starting the pills, I have been so blessed. It has completely cut out all the food noise for me. I am just not thinking about food anymore."

Sharon added: "If the price is still affordable and the food noise comes back, I might decide to keep taking the pills to maintain my weight."