Woman who lost six stone taking Mounjaro issues one warning after coming off it

A woman who lost over six stone with the help of popular weight loss jab Mounjaro has issued a warning after weaning herself off it.

It has been estimated that 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight loss drugs, with around 29 percent of the adult population thought to be obese.

And two of the most popular injections appear to be Mounjaro and Ozempic, although both are slightly different.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription-only medication designed for patients with Type-2 diabetes in England.

After it's injected, the drug lowers blood sugar levels and reduces appetite, making you feel full for longer. In the UK, it has been prescribed as a weight loss drug for more people from 23 June.

Ellen Ogley, 42, was a size 18 at her heaviest (SWNS)

Mounjaro approved for use in the UK

NHS GPs in England are allowed to prescribe Mounjaro for the first time to around 220,000 people with the 'greatest need'.

Patients previously needed to access the drugs through a special weight loss service, but now it will be offered in a staggered three-year rollout to people with a BMI of over 40 who have at least four other health problems linked to obesity.

Mum, 42, loses nearly six stone from using Mounjaro

Ellen Ogley, from Yorkshire, weighed 16st 12lbs at her heaviest while suffering from a period of illness. The 42-year-old was then diagnosed with cervical and ovarian cancer, and said she would use takeaways and binge drinking as a 'coping mechanism'.

Thankfully, the mum-of-three got the all-clear in 2023 and decided to lose weight to 'take control of my health'.

"I went to see a surgeon for a tummy tuck. But I needed to lose three stone in order to have a tummy tuck and liposuction to get skinny," she explained.

Ellen has managed to wean herself off Mounjaro (SWNS)

Ellen started intermittent fasting and restricted her diet to get herself down to 13st 10lbs. After undergoing a successful £10k tummy tuck treatment in February 2024, she was hoping to shift more of the weight.

"I only lost 4lbs more after the tummy tuck. I was devastated," the nursery manager said.

Ellen started Mounjaro in May 2024 and coupled it with cardio exercise for 22 weeks.

Ellen's warning over Mounjaro

After losing over six stone, the mum managed to ditch the jab to maintain a healthy weight of roughly 10st. She warned that the best way to keep the weight off is to eat swap two-weekly takeaways and binge drinking weekends for 'fakeaways' and weight training.

"If you’re using Mounjaro, don’t expect it to do the work for you", she explained. "It’s not a cure - it’s a kick-start. You still have to change your habits, your mindset, and how you treat your body. That’s what makes it last.

"I wanted to make sure I wasn't reliant on Mounjaro," Ellen added. "I used this as a tool. I've done so much work on damage limitation. I want to give others hope they can keep it off. I feel incredible."

This was her diet before:

• Breakfast: Skipped

• Lunch: Jacket potato, cheese and beans

• Dinner: Pasta bake, apple pie and custard

• Snacks: Packet of biscuits, cookies

And this is her diet now:

• Breakfast: Greek yoghurt, berries, granola/ overnight oats

• Lunch: Chicken salad

• Dinner: Chicken and sweet potato fries/ tortilla wrap pizza

What are the side effects of Mounjaro?

NHS GPs in England are allowed to prescribe Mounjaro for the first time (Getty Stock Images)

According to Diabetes UK, the side effects include:

• Feeling sick

• Indigestion

• Constipation

• Diarrhoea

• Risk of low blood sugar

• Risk of high blood sugar

Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, told LADbible: "Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is authorised to be used for weight management ‘as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in adults’ (i.e. it must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity).

"Mounjaro should only be used when prescribed by a healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by registered pharmacies and providers. It is important for patients to maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity to support overall health."