A MUM has revealed the surprising side benefit of using skinny jabs – and it's proved just as life-changing as shedding 7st.
Emma Clark, from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, started using Mounjaro last August so she could be more actively involved with her young children.
Tipping the scales at 22st 8lb, the 29-year-old previously struggled to play with her little ones and knew something had to change.
She told Fabulous: “I have two young children ages nine and five.
“I want to be that mum chasing my kids about in the park not sitting down out of breath like I was.”
Emma, who is a carer for her son, has now lost an incredible 98lb in seven months with the help of Mounjaro.
The drug, also known as Tirzepitide, is regarded by some as the King Kong ofweight loss jabs
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity.”;
But the NHS does also warn: “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 use weight loss drugs – and the number is expected to double in the next year.
The 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).
The drugs can be lawfully supplied when prescribed by a practitioner – such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But increasingly, people who do not meet the requirements have been buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
Only recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.
Emma, however, met the criteria to be prescribed Monjouro privately and lost one stone in her first week.
She admits: “When I first started Mounjaro I was nervous because of the stigma attached to using it.
“I had tried numerous diets and lifestyle changes but due to having PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) it made it that bit more difficult for me.
“At 22 stones 8lbs being my heaviest I decided stuff it let’s just try it and see what happens.”
She added: “Within three months my periods had regulated.
“Something I have never experienced was a regular period, sometimes I would have one then not have another for months, but I’ve actually had a period every single month since starting Mounjaro.”
Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone’s weight.
Emma used an online calorie deficit calculator and a water intake calculator for her body and weight to ensure she uses the jab responsibly.
At the beginning of her journey she also set alarms to remind herself to eat on the days where suppression was at an all time high.
And her efforts have paid off, as she's dropped from a size 22-24 to a size 16.
With her wedding now just 12 weeks away, the mum-of-two is now on a maintenance dose to ensure her dress fits perfectly.
She insists that weight loss jabs are not a lazy approach, and is determined to maintain a healthy lifestyle as she continues her journey.
“Mounjaro is often names an easy approach but it really isn’t”, she said.
“You need to relearn eating habits, you have to adjust your lifestyle and cook more cleaner meals.
“It’s also a big financial commitment and you need to set new foundations for a healthier lifestyle when you do reach your target.”
She added: “I’ve faced plenty judgement. Thankfully I’m thick skinned and I keep my head up so when the trolls are looking up at me all they can see is my double chin.
“Everyone experiences judgement but the bottom line is no one’s lived in my shoes and if they did they wouldn’t be so quick to judge.
“A lot of the time it comes down to their lack of knowledge so that’s why I’m sharing my journey to educate others.”
Surprise side ‘benefits'
Emma documents her positive Mounjaro experience on social media – @__mummyof2__ – and has been left stunned by a surprise benefit it has had.
Like any medication, the weight loss jab can have side effects with common ones including stomach pain, nausea, and constipation.
For Emma, however, it has cleared up her psoriasis, which she has suffered from for nine years.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin which form scales and affects around one in 50 people in the UK.
There's no cure for the condition, but a range of treatments including light therapy and steroid creams can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.
But Emma told us: “After around month four of using Mounjaro I started to notice the psoriasis behind my ears was disappearing.
“The psoriasis in my scalp had reduced massively and by month six I had little to no psoriasis.”
She continued: “Psoriasis always had a massive effect on my confidence.
“I wouldn't wear black due to my skin flaking. I was losing hair on my head due to the psoriasis in my scalp now my hair's starting to grow back in.
“I noticed how much my confidence spiked just not having the burden of psoriasis anymore.
“I started Mounjaro thinking it’ll help me to lose weight. I didn't think it would benefit me in the ways that it has.
“When I started there weren't a lot of people speaking about the benefits of it in terms of health it was only about weight loss.
“Now I’ve come to the realisation that Mounjaro has helped me with much more than weight loss.”
And her revelation has sparked a flurry of response from other Mounjaro users who have experienced their own side “benefits”.
One revealed: “I’m in menopause and don’t take HRT. I don’t have hot flashes anymore.”
A second wrote: “Mounjaro has done more for my PCOS in 7 weeks than anything else in 5 years.”
A third said: “My skin is so much better and my horrendous IBS has gone. It ruled my life.
“So excited for getting out and about without the stress of wondering where the loos are.”
A fourth chimed in: “My sciatica is nearly disappeared only been few weeks on it. I'm able to walk for long distance without folding in pain.”
“It cleared a cyst on my skin that I was scheduled to have surgically removed”, added a fifth.
Meanwhile, a sixth gushed: “My debilitating migraines have gone. Even if I never lost any weight that in itself is life-changing.”
Emma has been left overwhelmed by the amazing community she's discovered on the social media app.
She said: “I’ve met so many friends through TikTok, people all on the same journey that have now turned out to be some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.”
