Weight Loss Injections Transform Life of Teenagerโฃ Who Once Ate a โMultipack โof Crisps โin One Sitting
LONDON – โA mother, Harriet (name changed to protect identity), has spoken of โher reliefโฃ after weight lossโข injectionsโฃ dramatically improved โฃtheโฃ health and wellbeing of her 18-stone son, Jack. The decision to pursue medication followed a moment of concern when Jack consumed an โฃentireโค multipack of crisps in a single sitting, prompting Harriet to feel she was failing as a parent.
The injections, GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking a hormone thatโ signals fullness toโ the โbrain, suppressingโ appetite and โคencouragingโค the bodyโ to burn fat. They also slow digestion and increase insulin production, initially developed forโค type โ2 โคdiabetes. Wegovy is set to become anโ NHS staple this yearโฃ alongside Saxenda (liraglutide).
Jack’s transformation has allowed him to return to playing full rugby matches, somthing he previouslyโฃ couldn’t do dueโฃ to his weight. “He’s back playing rugby again now andโข he’sโฃ enjoying it so much,” Harriet said.”even when he was overweight he was aโฃ good rugby player and would getโ picked to play but he was never able โto finish a match, and they would have to take him off.โค But now he canโค play a full game. He gets pickedโ to play every weekโค andโ he enjoys it so much.”
Harriet notes a meaningful shift in Jack’s lifestyle. โ”he’s out on his bike everyโ day, and โขhis mindset is soโข diffrent. Instead of buying a packet of crisps, he’ll get himself a โฃhigh-protein snack like chicken.” โJack is โคnow openly proud ofโข his treatment, even showing friends his injections. “He’ll have his โfriends here and say, ‘Doโ you want to see me take my injection?’ He’s proud of this,” Harriet added. “itโข has changed our lives.”
access to theseโ drugs on the NHS โคis currently restricted to specialist weight loss clinics, typically requiring a BMI of 30 or higher โคand a weight-related health condition like โขhigh blood pressure. Private prescribers offer the jabs, including Mounjaro, to those with a BMI of 30+ orโ 25-30 with a weight-related health risk, but are now required toโ conduct video or face-to-face appointmentsโค to verify patient data.
Whileโค the injections have proven effective, they are notโ without โside effects. โAround half of users experienceโ gut issues โlike sickness, bloating, and diarrhoea. Rarer, but more serious, side effects include severe acute pancreatitis (affecting approximately โขone in 500 peopel), altered taste, kidney problems, allergic โขreactions, โขgallbladder problems, and hypoglycemia.
Figures obtained by the Sun indicate that, โฃup to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in โthe UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines, โthough evidenceโค regarding the impact on mental health remains inconclusive.
Jack is now aiming toโ gradually reduce his reliance on the โmedication as he approaches โฃhis target weight of 12 โstone.
