Why Weight-Loss Jabs Are a Bad Idea After 50 (And What to Do Instead)
- Chris Deavin
- Dec 16, 2025
- 4 min read
There is a lot of hype around the new weight-loss medication that many people are turning to. But what role do they play in helping people stay healthy as they age?
If you’re over 50 and trying to lose weight, it can feel harder than it ever used to.
What worked in your 30s doesn’t work anymore. Diets that once gave quick results now leave you tired, frustrated, and back where you started. So when weight-loss injections and “jabs” promise fast, effortless results, it’s understandable that people are tempted.
But just because something works quickly doesn’t mean it works well, or that it works long term.
After coaching people in their 50s, 60s and beyond for over 20 years, I can confidently say this:
Sustainable weight loss after 50 isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about strength, consistency, and who you become in the process.
Why Weight Loss Feels Harder After 50
Most people already know what they should be doing to lose weight:
Eat better
Move more
Sleep well
Manage stress
The real struggle isn’t knowledge, it’s consistency.
Modern life makes it easy to eat poorly, sit for long periods, and rely on stimulants for energy. Add work stress, family responsibilities, hormonal changes, and reduced muscle mass, and staying consistent becomes the real challenge.
That’s why many people turn to weight-loss medication. Not because they’re lazy, but because they’re tired of trying and failing.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Actually Work
Weight-loss injections work by stimulating a hormone called GLP-1, which suppresses appetite and helps you feel full more quickly. As a result, you eat less and lose weight.
On the surface, that sounds like a win.
But here’s the problem: the body doesn’t only lose fat.
Research shows that a significant percentage of the weight lost through appetite suppression comes from lean muscle mass.
Some studies show muscle loss of around 11%, while others suggest it can be much higher.
For anyone over 50, this is a serious issue.
Why Muscle Loss Is the Real Danger After 50
Muscle isn’t just about looking toned or athletic. It plays a critical role in:
Metabolic health
Blood sugar regulation
Bone density
Balance and stability
Injury prevention
Healthy ageing
As we age, it naturally becomes harder to maintain muscle. That doesn’t mean muscle loss is inevitable, but it does mean you have to actively work to preserve it.
When muscle is lost too quickly:
Metabolism slows
Energy drops
Strength declines
Risk of falls and injuries increases
In simple terms, losing muscle makes you older, weaker, and less resilient, even if the number on the scale goes down.
Not All Weight Loss Is Good Weight Loss
When someone tells me their goal is “weight loss,” I always ask one question:
What kind of weight do you want to lose?
Because losing weight and improving health are not always the same thing.
If you dramatically reduce food intake, whether through medication or extreme dieting, your body doesn’t think, “This is great, we’re getting leaner.”It thinks, “We’re under threat. We need to survive.” Muscle is one of the first tissues your body uses for energy.
That’s why rapid weight loss often leads to:
Muscle loss
Fat regain
A slower metabolism
Long-term frustration
What Actually Works for Weight Loss After 50
Interestingly, studies show that people who preserve muscle while losing fat tend to follow the same simple principles:
Strength training 2–3 times per week
Regular movement (around 150 minutes per week)
A small, sustainable calorie deficit
Adequate protein intake
Good sleep and stress management
This approach isn’t exciting. It isn’t fast. But it works, and it works long term. More importantly, it builds habits and resilience rather than dependency.
Why Effort Matters More Than Speed
The biggest difference between people who succeed long-term and those who don’t isn’t motivation or genetics.
Its identity.
People who lose weight and keep it off don’t just change what they eat, they change how they see themselves.
They become someone who:
Trains even when motivation is low
Eats well most of the time, not perfectly
Adjusts after setbacks instead of quitting
Values strength, health, and consistency
Weight-loss medication can change your appetite. It cannot change who you are. That transformation only happens through effort, repetition, and learning from failure.
Is There Ever a Place for Medication?
Yes, in certain medical situations, medication can play a role.
But for the majority of people over 50 who want to lose weight, feel better, and stay strong as they age, lifestyle should always come first.
Strength training, good nutrition, daily movement, and sustainable habits don’t just help you lose fat, they improve every area of your life.
The Bottom Line
If you’re over 50 and trying to lose weight, don’t ask: “How fast can I lose it?”
Ask: “How strong, capable, and resilient do I want to be in 10 years?”
Because real success isn’t about shrinking your body, it’s about building one that lasts.
Weight-loss jabs may temporarily change your body. Consistency, discipline, and strength change your life permanently.
Want Help Putting This Into Practice?
If you know what you should be doing but struggle to stay consistent, that’s exactly what my coaching helps with.
At myhealthcoach.online, I help people over 50:
Lose fat without losing muscle
Build strength and confidence
Develop habits that actually stick
Create a healthier identity, not just short-term results
👉 Explore coaching options or join my 28-Day Resilience & Habit Challenge to start building real momentum, without extremes or shortcuts.
Chris Deavin is the founder of myHealthCoach and creator of The W.I.S.D.O.M Program, a resilience-based coaching framework helping people over 50 build strength, confidence, and consistency for life.
He writes The Resilient Life newsletter and hosts The Resilient Life Podcast.
Follow his work on Substack and join the Resilient Life community to build a body, and mindset, that lasts.
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