A man who lost nine stone in 10 months through using Mounjaro has opened up about the surprising psychological impact which 'no one really prepares you for'.
Mounjaro - originally developed to help patients manage Type 2 diabetes - is now available on the NHS, meaning more and more people have started to use the drug to help shift the pounds.
The medication contains a substance known as tirzepatide, which works by slowing down a person's digestion, thus reducing appetite and keeping a person fuller for longer. It's believed that around 500,000 people in the UK are currently taking either Mounjaro or Wegovy, with these numbers set to increase with GPs now able to prescribe the medication.
One person sharing their experience online is Northern Ireland-based Marc McKee, who turned to Mounjaro after exhausting every other form of dieting. The 34-year-old had received a stark health warning from his doctor, saying that he may not live to see 40 unless he made serious lifestyle changes.
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Now 10 months later and nine stone lighter - thanks to a combination of the medication and lifestyle changes - and Marc credits Mounjaro for helping him reclaim his life.
He shares his journey on his social media, @my.health.with.marc, in hopes of educating people on how to use the medication safely and effectively.
While life-changing, Marc says the journey wasn't an easy one, revealing to LADbible the one side effect which 'no one really prepares you for'.
What are the side effects of using Mounjaro?
Search 'Mounjaro side effects' online and you'll likely find numerous people reporting experiences of nausea, low blood sugar, constipation and diarrhoea.
For Marc, he was lucky enough not to have any unpleasant reactions - excluding minor dehydration headaches at the start of treatment - with the biggest side effect for him being emotional instead of physical.
"As the weight started coming off, I had to confront who I was without the fat armour I’d worn for so long. Looking in the mirror became disorienting," he said, explaining that it took time for his brain to 'catch-up' with the reflection he was seeing in the mirror.
"Even now, I sometimes forget how much space I used to take up. That kind of mental adjustment is something no one really prepares you for."
Marc has now built a community of tens of thousands online and is keen to make sure people are aware that 'it's not a magic fix' but instead a tool to help people build healthier habits.
Since starting Mounjaro, his blood pressure and cholesterol ‘have normalised’ and he’s been able to come off ‘most of the medications I once relied on, releasing the burden on the NHS’.
"Obesity isn’t just about willpower," he explains. "It’s about biology, hormones, trauma, habits… and for some of us, food is the addiction that never leaves, because unlike alcohol or cigarettes, you can’t quit eating.
"I didn’t cheat. I chose to survive. I used a medically approved tool, under medical supervision, to reclaim my life."
Since sharing his journey online, Marc said he's received an outpouring of support from people in similar a situation – however this hasn't been without backlash.
Marc faced harsh comments from trolls accusing him of 'cheating' by using Mounjaro, something which he is keen to explain isn't the case at all.
"The medication gave me the opportunity to change, but I still had to do the work. I had to show up every day, build new habits and stay committed even when people were rooting for me to fail," he added.
"It’s been a positive journey but also one of the hardest, most vulnerable things I’ve ever done."
Brenna Cooper