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Cambridgeshire nature reserve will triple in size with new walking trails

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Cambridgeshire Live

The reserve is expected to expand from 78 hectares to around 280 hectares

Plans to more than triple the size of a scenic nature reserve in Cambridgeshire have moved forward. Paxton Pits in Little Paxton near St Neots is set to expand from 78 hectares to about 280, making it one of the largest in Cambridgeshire.

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Plans were initially submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council. The land was due to be transferred in phases over the coming years as gravel extraction is completed, with the new lease extending until 2087.

In the latest update, District Councillor Martin Hassall for Buckden, Diddington, and Southoe has confirmed that the final phase of excavation is scheduled for late summer to early autumn.

The footpath to the Ouse is now reportedly open and the quarry operator is currently submitting the paperwork to convert it into a bridleway. The bridleway from Diddington Pit to the Quarry, which continues to the Paxton Pits Visitor Centre is due to open by this summer, according to Cllr Hassall.

The nature reserve is expected to have three more lakes, islands for wading birds, and a variety of habitats. Extension leases for the reserve are due to be signed this month and a soft opening is expected to follow.

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Councillor Hassall said: “The quarry team is working in full accordance with the current planning permission. A new planning and restoration application is underway. Site inspections from October and January were positive, with consultations indicating no technical issues.”

The councillor explained that ‘Area B’ was revisited based on new information and it was determined that significantly less inert material is required for restoration. This specific detail needs final approval and might be a delegated decision. If not, it would likely go to the June Planning Committee.

The project will also provide 27 kilometres of footpaths, 8.4 kilometres of cycleway, and new bird hides and viewpoints.

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‘Missing’ Morecambe and Wise episode set to air on BBC and fans don’t have long to wait

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Wales Online

The long-lost episode was thought to be lost forever and will broadcast on BBC Four onext month.

Fans of The Morecambe and Wise Show have reason to celebrate as a long-lost episode is scheduled to broadcast on the BBC imminently.

The episode, unseen for decades and presumed lost permanently, will air on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer on 14 May.

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This transmission date marks what would have been Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday. Alongside the special episode, the broadcaster will also present The Perfect Morecambe and Wise to commemorate the occasion.

A charitable organisation called Film Is Fabulous! uncovered the lost episode within the estate of a former television industry professional. It has since been returned to the BBC.

The rediscovered episode is the third from Morecambe and Wise’s inaugural series, following their return to the BBC after a stint with commercial television, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: ITV confirm Celebrity Lingo’s replacement as This Morning star’s show takes its placeREAD MORE: BBC Casualty icon Charlie Fairhead ‘set to return’ but there’s bad news for fans

It features sketches penned by Sid Green and Dick Hills, with Ann Hamilton appearing as Pauline in a sketch situated in a nudist colony.

Additionally, Jenny Lee-Wright stars as Eric’s niece who is also a balloon dancer. BBC audiences will also enjoy a musical performance from The Paper Dolls, who were prominent in the 1960s.

Discussing the rediscovered episode, Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives, expressed considerable enthusiasm.

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They commented: “Morecambe and Wise are one of the UK’s most loved comedy duos. Thanks to Film Is Fabulous!

“We’re delighted to share this comedy gold that we thought was lost forever with viewers across the UK. It’ll be broadcast on BBC Four and available to watch whenever you like on BBC iPlayer from 8pm on Thursday May 14.”

Gail, Eric Morecambe’s daughter, expressed her delight at the episode’s transmission, noting how marvellous it was that the broadcast aligned with her father’s centenary celebrations.

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She commented: “What a lovely surprise this is, and I’m really looking forward to seeing it on a screen once again after so many years. It’s excellent to hear that skilled people are actively going through the Archives and discovering ‘lost’ programmes.

“Not just Morecambe and Wise, of course. I am especially thrilled that it coincides with my father’s centenary year. Really wonderful.”

Gary Morecambe, Eric’s son, remarked: “I’m so thrilled and surprised by the discovery of a Morecambe and Wise show that hasn’t been seen since 1968. I honestly didn’t think there was anything out there left to find, and when something like this comes out of nowhere, it’s really quite wonderful.

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“Hats off to Professor Justin Smith and his team, whose dedication and hard work brought this gem back to us. I’m very excited about seeing it for the first time since I was twelve years of age.”

The long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show is available to watch on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer from May 14.

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DWP payment dates confirmed as change could affect thousands in May

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Wales Online

Benefit and state pension payments could be affected

Benefit recipients and state pensioners may notice several alterations to their payments in May, as annual uplifts come into force for the first time for some claimants, while bank holidays could result in thousands receiving payments several days ahead of schedule.

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The Department for Work and Pensions has announced which payment dates will be modified in May due to the two forthcoming bank holidays. Those awaiting payments on Monday 4th May and Monday 25th May might find themselves caught off guard as a consequence.

Since banks and DWP offices are normally shut on these dates, payments will not be processed and those expecting benefit or state pension instalments will receive their money on the final working day before the bank holiday instead.

For those scheduled to receive payments on 4th May, the final working day beforehand is Friday 1st May. Similarly, those due payments on 25th May will receive them on 22nd May instead, the DWP has announced.

Benefits that will be affected by both bank holidays:

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  • Universal Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Child Benefits
  • Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
  • Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance State pension payments will also be affected by both bank holidays. Those anticipating these early payments need not do anything, as their payments will return to their normal schedule from June onwards.

Managing finances can become considerably more difficult when payment dates are changed, meaning the same amount of money must stretch over four extra days before your regular payment date arrives, particularly given that April’s bank holidays also caused disruption.

The vast majority of benefits are paid out every four weeks, making it unlikely that a single person would be affected by both the April and May bank holiday disruptions. That said, those in receipt of the state pension could well be impacted.

Ordinarily, the state pension is paid every four weeks, although recipients can request weekly payments if they prefer. The day on which you receive your payment corresponds to the final two digits of your NI number.

Those with an NI number ending between 00 and 19 receive their payments on a Monday. Given that all of next month’s bank holidays fall on Mondays, weekly state pension recipients could find themselves affected on more than one occasion.

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Should the bank holidays pass without you receiving the correct benefit or state pension payment, you may need to get in touch with the DWP or HMRC helpline. The DWP does recommend thoroughly checking your award notice before making any contact.

Benefit payments and state pension rates officially increased on 6th April at the start of the new tax year, though some recipients may notice a mix of both old and new rates in their payments, as their benefit covers a four-week period.

Those on Universal Credit in particular are unlikely to see the higher rates reflected until their May or even June payments, as the updated figures only kick in once a full assessment period that began after 6th April has passed.

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Politicians step up campaigning with one week to go until Holyrood ballot

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Politicians step up campaigning with one week to go until Holyrood ballot

The party is also hoping to win a constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament for the first time ever – with Edinburgh Central, where SNP Culture Secretary Angus Robertson is standing, and Glasgow Southside, which was previously held by former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, two of the constituencies where the Greens hope to make a breakthrough.

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US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel

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US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel

US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in the statement: “As the indictment lays bare, the Sinaloa cartel, and other drug trafficking organisations like it, would not operate as freely or successfully without corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials on their payroll.”

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Young Scots footballers bashed by club after wearing offensive t-shirts

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Daily Record

T-shirts worn by the teens featured a variety of sexual messages on including ‘I love doggy style’, ‘I love big as**s’, ‘I love drunk girls’ and ‘I love MILFS’.

A youth football club has slammed a photo of its young players wearing t-shirts with slogans such as: ‘I love big t***’ and ‘I love sluts’.

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The teens aged 14-15 wore tops with a variety of sexual messages on including ‘I love doggy style’, ‘I love big as**s’, ‘I love drunk girls’ and ‘I love MILFS’. Members of the Musselburgh Windsor 2011 team were taking part in a tournament in Barcelona for six days over the Easter holidays.

On one of the evenings an image appeared on the team’s Instagram page. The club has slammed the “explicit, sexualised and misogynistic” slogans as “wholly unacceptable”.

It is believed the t-shirts were bought for the players by some of their parents, who had accompanied them on the trip.

Someone close to a parent of a player in the club’s girls’ section told the Courier in Scotland they found the incident to be “not simply a matter of poor taste” but also raising broader questions about “the safeguarding culture” and “standards of behaviour being modelled to young players”.

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They said: “This is very inappropriate for minors and raises serious concerns about the judgment and safeguarding awareness of the adults responsible.”

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The Instagram post was removed shortly afterwards and the full page is now listed as private.

Scott Robertson, president of Musselburgh Windsor FC, told the Courier that, while the coaches were out for a meal with their own families and “unaware” of what was happening, “it appears that some of the parents took it upon themselves to purchase the t-shirts and take photographs”.

He said that a parent had also posted the photo to the team’s public Instagram page. When the coaches returned to the hotel, the lead coach was made aware and he “immediately deleted the image”, Mr Robertson explained.

He said: “All the players and the parents were summoned to a meeting whilst in Spain and it was made clear that it was wholly unacceptable.”

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One comment on the original Instagram post said that those responsible should be “utterly ashamed” of themselves for sharing the image publicly.

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Mum’s heartbreak as son faces cerebral palsy diagnosis while twin starts walking

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Belfast Live

Eliseo was born prematurely at 28 weeks and has had 13 surgeries, primarily on his brain, in his short life

A young boy left brain damaged following a meningitis infection has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy in his limbs just as his twin brother is beginning to walk.

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Eliseo and his twin brother Luca were born prematurely at 28 weeks and while Luca has progressed into a healthy young boy without any difficulties, Eliseo has faced constant difficulties after being diagnosed with hydrocephalus and had to have a series of operations, primarily on his brain.

He also developed cysts on his brain following a meningitis infection caused by a blocked shunt and requires constant care from his worried parents who are determined to do all they can to improve his quality of life.

In February they launched a fundraising appeal to help secure stem cell treatment for Eliseo which has proved to be very successful, with over £30,000 raised so far which has helped the young boy.

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However, he recently received further “devastating” news when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in all four of his limbs.

Speaking to Belfast Live, his mum Shauna O’Reilly said that the diagnosis came at a time when the family were feeling more optimistic about his future as Eliseo has been making big improvements at physiotherapy and his brother Luca had just started walking.

She said: “The past few weeks have been full of mixed emotions, it has been crazy. On the one hand Eliseo has been doing really well with his physiotherapy and the improvements he has made with her have been incredible only for us to get the devastating news about his cerebral palsy.

“We have been trying to absorb this while at the same time being excited to see Luca starting to walk and make great progress in his development.

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“This has all been going on while we have been trying to raise funds to get Eliseo vital stem cell treatment, and the support that we have received for it has been amazing. It is actually overwhelming how many people have reached out to help us and we have now raised over £30,000 which will allow Eliseo to begin his treatment in Mexico.

“Early intervention is key if we are going to give Eliseo the best quality of life possible and we are so thankful to everyone who has donated to our fundraiser and helped us over the past few weeks, it really means the world to us.”

If you would like to donate to the appeal to help Eliseo please follow this link.

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Rooftop restaurant blames ‘perfect storm’ of economic hits as it announces sudden closure

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Manchester Evening News

Climat in Manchester city centre has become the latest eatery to close

An award-winning Manchester rooftop restaurant has announced its closure, blaming a ‘perfect storm’ of rising food inflation, an increasing tax burden and a stagnant economy.

Climat, perched on top of Blackfriars House in the city centre, has won a series of awards since its opening in November 2022, with diners attracted to its French food, selection of more than 400 wines and panoramic views of Manchester.

Critics Jay Rayner and William Sitwell raved about the restaurant which has been nominated in the Manchester Food & Drink Awards numerous times, and was included in the Michelin Inspectors Guide.

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A statement on its Instagram page said: “I’m heartbroken to announce the closure of Climat with immediate effect. Sadly, we are yet another casualty of the times we’re living in.

“The reasons for closure will echo those of many of our peers. Ultimately, a stagnant economy and the persistent cost of living crisis, combined with rampant food inflation and the ever increasing tax burden for small business has created the perfect storm for hospitality – an industry so reliant on high staff numbers and costly, well-positioned locations – both of which have received significant tax increases over the last two budgets

“During Climat’s first 13 months in business, we were billed over £112,000 for electricity alone, almost 400% more than budgeted. Since opening the doors in December 2022, wages have increased by 33% alongside the more recent increases in Employers National Insurance Contributions. Our business rates payable in 2023/24 were £12,000p/a, today they sit at £38,000p/a. All these increases alongside reduced footfall are spelling disaster for so many.

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“Whilst I wanted to highlight these reasons for closure, in the naive hope the Government will start to listen before it’s too late for others, I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of our team over the last 3.5 years. The closure does not do justice to their efforts and dedication. I’d also like extend a huge debt of gratitude to our guests for their support, enabling us to build a nationally recognised wine list – our raison d’être.“I wish everyone the very best of luck in these challenging times.”

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King Charles meets Zohran Mamdani after diamond row ahead of 9/11 memorial

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Belfast Live

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on a four-day trip through the United States

King Charles III was seen happily shaking hands with Zohran Mamdani, despite the New York City Mayor having previously stated that he would urge the royal to return the Koh-i-noor diamond to India if they spoke.

Mamdani spoke at a press conference hours before the 9/11 ceremony saying: “If I were to speak to the King separately from that, I’d probably encourage him to return the Kohinoor diamond.”

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The diamond, originating in the Kollur mine in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India, is set into a royal crown on display in the Tower of London. Seized by the East India Company after its victory in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1849, the gem was given to Queen Victoria and has remained part of the Crown Jewels ever since.

But countries including India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan have all claimed ownership, The Mirror reports. The Koh-i-noor diamond wasn’t used during King Charles III’s coronation, allowing Buckingham Palace to sidestep the controversy surrounding a gem acquired during the age of Empire.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial, where they met with first responders and the families of victims of the September 11 attacks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries also attended the ceremony, which comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Mamdani and the King were captured shaking hands at the event sharing a friendly conversation. The royal couple’s swing through the city comes midway through a four-day trip marking 250 years of American independence.

It will be the first trip to New York by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2010. The four-day trip is Charles’ first state visit to the U.S. since he became king.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the U.S. Monday, the king and queen joined President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.

On Tuesday, Charles and Trump had a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office. The king then delivered a rare speech before Congress, the first by a British monarch since his late mother in 1991, followed by a formal state dinner at the White House.

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Summer House reality star West Wilson’s cousin accused of killing their grandmother

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Summer House reality star West Wilson’s cousin accused of killing their grandmother

Summer House star West Wilson’s cousin has been accused of fatally shooting their grandmother, according to police.

Gayle Wilson, 75, was reportedly killed in her Missouri home on April 22. West Wilson’s cousin, identified as 28-year-old Dakota Sweeney, was arrested and charged the next day with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A witness told investigators that Sweeney, who lived with his grandmother, opened fire after they argued about him “not assisting with chores” around the house, according to an affidavit reviewed by NBC News. The pair had been in a room together for half an hour when Sweeney shot her “without warning,” the document said.

The shooting occurred just a day before the Summer House cast filmed their reunion episode, NBC News reports.

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It’s unclear if Sweeney has obtained an attorney. The Independent was unable to identify Sweeney’s attorney for comment.

West Wilson stars in Bravo’s Summer House
West Wilson stars in Bravo’s Summer House (Getty Images for SiriusXM)

West Wilson stars on Bravo’s Summer House, a reality TV show that follows a group who share a summer house in the Hamptons. He first joined the show during its eighth season. Summer House’s 10th and current season premiered in February.

In the season 10 reunion episode, cast members are reportedly expected to address a romantic scandal, dubbed “Scamanda” by fans, that involves West Wilson and his co-star, Amanda Batula. The episode is expected to air in late May.

The Independent requested comment from a spokesperson for Summer House.

The alleged shooting took place just a day before West Wilson and the cast of Summer House filmed the season 10 reunion episode
The alleged shooting took place just a day before West Wilson and the cast of Summer House filmed the season 10 reunion episode (Getty Images)

Gayle Wilson’s life was “marked by creativity, kindness, and cherished moments,” according to an obituary posted by Lindley Funeral Homes. She loved to cook, travel and make art, the obituary said.

“Gayle expressed love through culinary delight, often seen bringing smiles with her heartfelt meals and baked treats. Her cooking was the essence of her love language, nourishing both the body and the spirit of those she cherished,” the obituary reads. “Gayle loved to travel, and recently completed her bucket list of traveling to all 50 states of this great nation.”

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The Independent has contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

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People who stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy given ’18-month’ warning

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Wales Online

‘Doctors and patients should be aware.’

Research suggests that people who stop taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and similar products are likely to regain the weight they lost within approximately 18 months. A study, which analysed existing research, also found that former users of the drugs put weight back on four times faster than those who had shed pounds through behavioural methods such as dieting and exercise.

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Millions of people across the world use GLP-1 drugs to manage their weight. They function by reducing food cravings, slowing digestion and prolonging the feeling of fullness. However, a paper published in the British Medical Journal in January, which examined 37 previous studies involving 9,000 people, concluded that “cessation of weight management medications (WMMs) is followed by rapid weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers”.

It added: “Regain after [weight management medication] was faster than after [behavioural weight management programmes]. These findings suggest caution in short-term use of these drugs without a more comprehensive approach to weight management.”

GLP-1 drugs utilise active ingredients such as semaglutide, a medication originally developed to manage Type 2 diabetes that is now also prescribed to assist with weight management. Obesity is a chronic and recurring condition that affects nearly two billion adults across the globe and significantly raises the risk of illness and premature death. Researchers from the BMJ noted that weight loss “improves cardiovascular risk factors” and highlighted that a recent trial demonstrated “continuous use of semaglutide over four years reduced major cardiovascular disease events in individuals with existing cardiovascular disease”.

However, the researchers cautioned that the advantages of weight loss on diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors were diminished by weight being regained once treatment had ceased. They went on to say: “We have shown that weight regain is faster (0.8 kg/month) and a return to baseline weight projected at 1.5 years after cessation of treatment, implying that the benefits on cardiovascular health will probably also attenuate more rapidly.”

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They added that because “obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition, prolonged treatment with WMM may be required to sustain the health benefits” and concluded: “WMMs are associated with a reduction in weight and improvements in cardiometabolic health that are attenuated soon after treatment ends, with no evidence of benefit 1.7 years after the cessation of treatment. This evidence cautions against short-term use of WMMs, emphasises the need for further research into cost-effective strategies for long-term weight control, and reinforces the importance of primary prevention.”

The research encompassed studies using “any drug intervention that is currently or has previously been licensed for weight loss, or where there is reason to believe that the drug studied shares a class effect with a currently or previously licensed drug”. Among the various medications examined were semaglutide (used in Ozempic, Wegovy and others), tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and others), liraglutide (used in Saxenda) and several others, reports the Mirror.

A separate study, published last month by researchers at the University of Cambridge, similarly found that “when individuals stopped taking the medication, they underwent rapid initial weight regain” and noted: “By 52 weeks, individuals had regained 60% of their original weight loss.”

Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, said: “Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite, making us feel full sooner, which means we eat less and therefore lose weight. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brake, and this can lead to rapid weight regain.”

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Researchers involved in the second study suggested that the reason some patients do not return to their original weight even a year after stopping the medications is that, by curbing appetite in the first instance, the drugs “may help individuals develop healthier eating habits, such as reduced portion sizes or more nutritionally-balanced meals, and these habits may persist even after treatment is discontinued”.

Steven Luo, also a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, said: “When stopping weight loss drugs, doctors and patients should be aware of the potential for weight regain and consider ways to mitigate this risk. It’s important that people are given advice on improving their diet and exercise, rather than relying solely on the drugs, as this may help them maintain good habits when they stop taking them.”

In response to the release of the BMJ report in January, pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, told the BBC: “These findings highlight the chronic nature of obesity and suggest that ongoing treatment is necessary to maintain improvements in weight and overall health for patients, similar to the management of other chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.”

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