A MUM who lost four stone thanks to Mounjaro weight loss injections says the jab “changed my life” after going from size 16 to 8.
But experts and NHS medics have warned about the dangers of fat jabs and say they shouldn’t be taken without a prescription.
Laura Thompson spent two years going to the gym and dieting but couldn’t seem to shift the weight.
After topping the scales at 14 stone, the mum was “unhappy” with her weight and resorted to using weight loss jabs.
After using Mounjaro, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, Laura now weighs 10 stone and is “happier than ever”.
She even went as far as saying “Mounjaro changed my life”.
But her remarkable weight loss, which happened in just five months, means trolls have accused her of not putting in the ‘hard work’ to slim down.
Mounjaro, known as the King Kong of jabs, is to be rolled out on the NHS.
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams says it can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity”.
But the NHS website warns: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”
About half a million Brits take weight loss drugs – and that number is expected to double in the next year.
Mounjaro is said to suppress the appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Sun Health Explainer: Fat jabs” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6345630254112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Weight loss injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese – with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over.
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on a person’s weight.
The drugs can be lawfully supplied only when prescribed by a practitioner – like a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But many people are buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
Earlier this year, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.
And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro are calling for a probe into the jab’s “potential to kill”.
‘Not a quick fix’
Despite the dangers, Laura, who has “never felt so proud” after slimming down, claims the injections “really do” work.
Posting on social media, Laura showed followers her body before and after, leaving many totally gobsmacked.
According to Laura, the jabs have changed how she “looks at food” and leave her feeling “fuller for longer”.
The savvy mum also admitted she hasn’t been to the gym while taking the drug as she shared: “I haven’t done any exercising.”
Despite this, she claimed Mounjaro is “not a quick fix”.
Whilst many have suffered horrendous side effects from the jabs, Laura confessed: “I didn’t suffer from side effects only when I went up to 10mg.
“I do have loose skin on my tummy, but it’s not really bad. I just need to start exercising.”
Big divide
Laura’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lauramariethompso, quickly racked up 642,300 views.
But social media users were left totally divided – whilst many praised her weight loss and thought she looked ‘fabulous’, not everyone was as keen on the idea of using Mounjaro.
One person said: “You look amazing.”
Another added: “Absolutely brilliant!!!!! Well done, you look incredible.”
A third commented: “Wow you look fabulous.”
But one person slammed: “Let’s see how your body turns out after taking this.”
A second chimed in: “This has also made a lot of people really really poorly.”
Another user wrote: “Don’t encourage medication. Eat well and move a little, not that hard…. Nobody wants to put the hard work in anymore.”
But Laura clapped back and wrote: “Even with medication you need to eat well and move more. Weight loss is hard work whatever you do!”
The dark side of Mounjaro
Despite Laura’s weight loss success, last year it was revealed that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight.
A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight loss drugs.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea leading to severe dehydration.
But doctors say they have also seen “life-threatening complications”, including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas.
Model Lottie Moss, 27, also said she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic.
The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its “top priority”.
Lilly UK stressed: “Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data.
“If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.”
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