I lost six stone on Mounjaro – people are stunned by my waistline but I had 3 gross side effects people DON'T talk about
A WOMAN has revealed that she lost six stone in seven months while using Mounjaro, but noticed some very strange side effects that people don't talk about.
Mia Melville, a young woman from the UK, once topped the scales at 18 stone 3 lbs, but was able to slim down thanks to
4
A young woman has revealed that she once weighed 18 stone 3 lbs but has since lost 6 stone thanks to fat jabs
Credit: tiktok@miamelville
4
Mounjaro is typically used to treat type 2 diabetes
Credit: Getty
Not only did Mia experience a long list of side effects, including egg-tasting
Sun GP
But despite this, the NHS warned: '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
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone's weight.
Most read in Fabulous
Mia took to social media to share a close-up look at her impressive weight loss transformation, which was thanks to the jabs, leaving many open-mouthed.
At the start of Mia's short clip, we saw her on holiday as she sat on a sun lounger in a white swimsuit.
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
Covering her face, Mia wrote: 'Some days I feel I haven't lost any weight.'
But seconds later, Mia shared a short clip of her new frame, where she posed in a tight black top showing off her slimmed down physique.
The gorgeous woman confirmed that she lost six stone thanks to the
Alongside using
Having said that, the foodie stressed that she 'didn't restrict' herself and still ate
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Mia's grim side effects and handy tips
In a
She stressed that taking daily vitamins is vital, as your body may not be getting the essential nutrients it needs due to
4
Although Mia Melville now has an enviable waistline, she revealed the grim side effects she battled
Credit: tiktok@miamelville
Mia also explained the importance of staying hydrated and advised that drinking two to three litres of water a day is crucial for managing side effects.
The content creator shared that she injected with her weekly dose in the evenings as she found this helped with potential side effects.
While many associate headaches, nausea and constipation with Mounjaro, Mia revealed some of the gross side effects she experienced that people don't talk about - which include sulfur burps, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Four weeks into using the fat jabs, Mia dealt with nausea, headaches, constipation and
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea
: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting
: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea
: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation
: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort
: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite
: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion
: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis
: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems
: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors
: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems
: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
: Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
Mia advised those dealing with sulfur burps to take peppermint oil capsules, which you can purchase from Holland & Barrett.
12 weeks in, she was not only dealing with nausea, but also experienced vomiting and diarrhoea too.
Mia also recommended those using Mounjaro to not move up a dose every four weeks unless it is necessary.
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @
It also amassed 2,111 likes and 171 comments, as many eagerly rushed to praise her jaw-dropping glow up.
Oh my goodness Mia! Look at that waistline
TikTok user
One person said: 'You look amazing.'
Another added: 'Absolutely incredible. Well done you!'
A third commented: 'Wow amazing results. You're looking fabulous!'
Not only this, but at the same time, someone else penned: 'Oh my goodness Mia! Look at that waistline.'
'Potential to kill'
Although many were impressed with Mia's weight loss, users should note that Mounjaro can have fatal consequences.
The drugs can be lawfully supplied when prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
4
But increasingly, people have been buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
Only recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed
Read more on the Irish Sun
And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, are now
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker and in more pain since having an MRI – help!
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Advertisement 2 Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns Credit: Olivia West 2 A reader who has metal hip replacements is worried an MRI might have affected it Credit: Getty Q) I HAVE got Two years ago, I began to experience pain. I finally found a painkiller that helped and have been on it since. I had X-rays that showed damage and was told to be careful because there was a chance I could suffer a fracture. I was sent for an MRI and a friend warned that maybe it could aggravate my pain. Since having the scan, my hip is more painful and feels weaker. Advertisement READ MORE FROM DR ZOE Lying still for so long was very uncomfortable, but could the MRI have affected my hip? Can an MRI aggravate the problem it is scanning? A) AN MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images. Modern hip implants are typically made of materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium or stainless steel, which are non-ferromagnetic, meaning they don't react strongly to magnetic fields. So having an MRI will not worsen the joint physically, but lying still for 30-45 minutes can aggravate pain. Advertisement Most read in Health Patients can feel sore and stiff afterwards, but this should be temporary as the cause is the positioning for the scan rather than the scan itself. My advice to anyone having an MRI is to always ask the staff to make you as comfortable as possible before going into the scanner. Janet Street Porter says she's leaving Loose Women for a bit to have hip replacement TIP: While we're enjoying the hot weather, it can be dangerous for some. Keep an eye on older relatives and those with long-term health conditions as they can be at higher risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and Advertisement Send your questions for Dr Zoe to: health@
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Rise in dangerous summer TikTok ‘wellness' trend that puts Gen Z girls at risk of cancer or even death
EVERY morning, Taylor Lyttle heads to a local beauty salon for a 15-minute sunbed session. After topping up her already deep-mahogany tan, at a cost of £13, the 21 year old then scrolls TikTok to check if her skin is darker than all of her sunbed-using friends. 6 Every morning, 21-year-old Taylor Lyttle pays £13 for a sunbed session - then checks TikTok to see if her tan beats her friends' 6 TikTok influencers claim tanning beds boost vitamin D and mental health — but experts warn it's a dangerous 'wellness' myth putting young women at risk of deadly skin cancer Credit: JACEY AT DEBUT ART 'If I see someone online darker than me, I get annoyed. I love how I look with a tan, it boosts my confidence and I feel more attractive,' she says. Taylor, a hairdresser from Belfast, adds that she's aware of the risks of sunbed use, including skin cancer, but isn't too worried. 'I'm very healthy. I eat well, I look after myself. I've never had any issues since I started using sunbeds five years ago. "I think of it as me-time – it's relaxing and reduces my stress,' she says. READ MORE FROM FABULOUS Like countless other Gen Z girls aged 13-28, Taylor spends hours scrolling posts on TikTok with hashtags like #tanned, #sunnyd and #whatmakesyouhappy, often featuring users bathed in blue UV light. 'It's a problem, but I'd rather die hot than live ugly I guess #yolo #lol #sunbed,' reads one caption. Meanwhile, influencers on the platform claim tanning beds can do everything from boost vitamin D levels to improve your mental health. Not only are many of these claims unproven, some are entirely false, and charities are concerned that marketing tanning as a 'wellness' trend is driving It's big money, too, with the UK's largest tanning chain, The Tanning Shop, growing by 40% since 2018. Most read in Fabulous Alarming time-lapse video reveals how tiny 'dark patch' morphs into melanoma 'Social media encourages us – we look at people's tans online and it gets competitive' Taylor has been using sunbeds since she was 16, even though it's illegal under the age of 18. 'No one ever checked my age,' she says. 'I just paid my money and went in. I guess I was self-conscious about my pale skin and I don't have a lot of confidence. "It's something that helps me. My mum knew I was doing it, but she didn't mind.' It's a social thing as well – we'll often meet at the sunbed salon then have coffee or lunch afterwards. Taylor Lyttle She adds: 'Now, I go most days, spending over £200 month to get my fix. I also use nasal tanning sprays [which contain synthetic hormones such as Last month, Trading Standards issued a warning that tanning nasal sprays could cause 'nausea, vomiting, However, Taylor insists she's never suffered any side effects, and plans to continue using them. 'Social media encourages us,' she says. 'I don't post photos of myself, but we all look at people's tans and it gets competitive. "We watch videos about how to boost your tan and most of us use tanners like nasal sprays. "It's a social thing as well – we'll often meet at the sunbed salon then have coffee or lunch afterwards.' Dr Björn Thomas, a consultant dermatologist and lead for melanoma at Guys' and St Thomas' Hospital, London, is seeing a rising number of young patients. 'We're no longer surprised to see someone aged 19 or 20 with melanoma,' he says. 'Often, they've had lots of exposure to sunbeds. It's an increasing trend among younger generations.' Dr Thomas said there is 'minimal' evidence emerging that a small amount of UV light is good for you. 'The reality is, sunbeds are not safe,' he says. 'The carcinogenic, cancer-causing effect could be significantly higher than if you are getting ambient sunlight out and about. Risks of sunbeds THE promise of a constant glowing tan is too tempting for some people to deny. But while popping to the sunbed shop may seem harmless, people who use tanning beds should be aware of the risks. Approximately 10 per cent of the population of Northern Europe use sunbeds on a regular basis, the World Health Organization says. Some people use them for years on end, accumulating risk of serious disease. We are here to give you the lowdown on sunbeds and if they are safe to use. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking. Like the sun, they give out harmful UV rays that damage the DNA in your skin cells. Over time, this may lead to malignant According to the They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health. Cancer Research back this statistic, adding that " there is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation". One study found that sunbeds can almost While some people think tanning beds are safer than sitting out in the midday sun, according to The Sunbed Association claim there is not enough evidence to link sunbed use with melanoma, adding: "It is over-exposure and But the WHO says: "The majority of tanning parlours provide inadequate advice to their customers. "The use of eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses should be mandatory. "However, as sunbed users aim to have an even tan, they often decide against protecting any part of their body." Referring to the link with skin cancer, the world health experts add: "Sunbeds for self-tanning purposes have been available for the last two decades and due to the long latency period for "Even though the causes of malignant melanoma are not fully understood, tumour development appears to be linked to occasional exposure to intense sunlight. "Sunbeds subject their users to intermittent high exposures of UVA and UVB radiation – this may provide the ideal setting for the development of malignant skin cancer. "However, the few epidemiological studies that have been carried out to date have not provided any consistent results." Despite the WHO's cautious stance on the skin cancer link, it discourages the use of sunbeds, quoting an expert who said the use of tanning parlours is like "an industrial-scale radiation exposure experiment". Regardless of skin cancer, sunbeds don't just have long-term health risks. Users have reported a range of short-term symptoms including itching, dryness and redness of skin, freckling and photosensitivity. Common outcomes in the longer term, especially in fair-skinned people, may involve blistering of the skin. " Georgia Edwards was diagnosed with melanoma when she was just 19, after finding a bloody mole on her thigh. She'd been using sunbeds for three years. 'I was really young and loved having a tan without the faff of getting all messy using fake tan,' recalls Georgia, now 27, from Horley, Surrey. 'My friends and I would go together for 10 minutes and you'd feel like you'd gone to Spain and back. It became addictive.' Even though she was at school when she started, like Taylor, she says she was never asked for ID. I was called back in and there was a consultant and a Macmillan nurse – I knew it wasn't good news and broke down. Georgia Edwards 'I just put my card into the machine and selected how many minutes I wanted. "I was going three or four times a week, but I could have gone twice a day if I'd wanted. No one stopped me.' Georgia showed her GP the affected mole in March 2017, after going to the doctor for a chest infection, and was immediately referred. After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma that May. 'I was called back in and there was a consultant and a news and broke down.' Georgia, who works in a rehabilitation centre for children with brain injuries, was referred to London's Royal Marsden Hospital for treatment. 6 Jessica Crowe's sister Tazmyn, left, died aged 31 after years of heavy sunbed use — a tragic reminder of the deadly risks behind the tanning trend 6 Tragically, despite further surgery and medication, Tazmyn's cancer spread, progressing to stage four She had two surgeries to remove the cancer. Fortunately, it hadn't spread. 'I had a wide, local incision to cut out the mole and surrounding area as it was quite deep in my skin and close to the lymph nodes,' she says. 'I have a 12cm scar on my leg and, eight years later, I'm still regularly checked as there's a high risk of it returning. 'I was young and naive. I thought it wouldn't happen to me. That was my mindset. Young people simply aren't aware of the dangers, and in years to come there's going to be a mass of people getting diagnosed. "Influencers promoting sunbeds have no idea of the dangers, they don't realise it could cost someone their life.' 'I lost my sister and best friend to sunbed use' Jessica Crowe knows only too well the the pain sunbeds can bring. Her sister The mum of three died in March 2023, aged just 31, having used sunbeds up to twice a day when she was younger. 'When we were teenagers, Tazmyn would use them all the time,' recalls Jessica, 31, a healthcare assistant and mum to Poppi, 14, and Memphis-Cub, two. 'I went with her a couple of times, but I'd just burn, so I stopped going. She was the tanned one and she loved it. "But after her diagnosis, she'd often say: 'Why did I do it?' She immediately stopped using them and regretted ever having gone on one.' Five years after her diagnosis, the cancer returned to her lymph nodes – reaching stage three. "Pregnant with her third child at the time, Tazmyn delivered her son 10 weeks prematurely in order to have further cancer treatment, almost losing him to a pulmonary haemorrhage. Tragically, despite further surgery and medication, Tazmyn's cancer spread, progressing to stage four, and in March 2023 Still grieving, Jessica, from Northern Ireland, says she finds social media posts advocating sunbed use and tan-boosting products distressing. 'It makes me so sad and angry. They make it sound like having a sunbed is harmless, when it's not. "As a family, we learned that the hardest way. Everything that Tazmyn went through began with sunbed use. "I was devastated when we lost her. I still am. She wasn't just my sister, but my best friend. 'My daughter would never use a sunbed, as she knows what happened to her aunt, but her friends do – some are only 13. "They are easily influenced by TikTok and Instagram.' This high-intensity UVA radiation can lead to genetic changes and mutations over time, which can build up and increase the risk of skin cancer. Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus The charity Melanoma Focus recently revealed that almost a third of people aged 16 and over in the UK use sunbeds, and that figure rises to 52% among 18-21 year olds. "More worryingly, only 47% of that age group understood that sunbeds increase their risk of skin cancer – and 20% even believed it could decrease the risk. 'These figures are really concerning,' says Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus. 'There is a swathe of misinformation on social media. Rather than being good for your health and increasing levels of vitamin D, as some influencers claim, most sunbeds mainly emit UVA radiation – which damages the DNA in skin cells – rather than UVB, which is required for vitamin D production. 'This high-intensity UVA radiation can lead to genetic changes and mutations over time, which can build up and increase the risk of skin cancer. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified UV radiation from commercial tanning beds as a type 1 carcinogen – putting it in the same category as smoking and 'As a charity, we are very concerned about this widespread misinformation circulating on social media. "This has been on the rise in recent years and it may be leading people to make harmful choices.' Despite hearing stories like Tazmyn's, Taylor says she has no plans to ditch her TikTok tan any time soon. 'I sometimes worry about the risk and I do check my moles, but I'm young and I put it to the back of my mind,' she confesses. 'People drink, smoke, vape or eat junk food. Lots of things we do are bad, but we do it anyway. For me, a tan is worth the risk.' 'If young people aren't making the right choices, we need to help them' Meanwhile, Jessica has a very different message. 'I'd like to see sunbeds banned like they are in other countries such as Australia, or at least some restrictions so they are not promoted online,' she says. 'When you're young, you don't think about the risks, but if young people aren't making the right choices, we need to help them.' 'Skin cancer took my sister from me and robbed her children of their mother. "My message to young women is: please stop using sunbeds, and ignore these influencers promoting them. Your life is worth more than a tan.' Call the Melanoma helpline on 0808 801 0777, 1-2pm and 7-9pm Monday-Friday, 7-9pm on Sundays ( 6 Georgia Edwards was diagnosed with melanoma when she was just 19, after finding a bloody mole on her thigh. She'd been using sunbeds for three years 6 Georgia had two surgeries to remove the cancer, one leaving this scar on her leg, but fortunately, it hadn't spread Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Extra.ie
11 hours ago
- Extra.ie
New weight loss pill set to rival 'fat jab' shows promising results in early trials
A new weight loss treatment that can be taken as either a daily pill or a weekly injection has shown very promising results in initial trials, according to a new study. In one of the tests, 125 adults were assigned weekly injections of a drug called 'AMYCRETIN', and early results showed that those receiving the 60 milligram dose lost nearly a quarter of their body weight over 36 weeks. 'Amycretin' is a 'unimolecular long-acting GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist' under development by Novo Nordisk, to provide a treatment for adults with obesity and as a treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes. Pic: Shutterstock If the initial results turn out to be effective in the long run, this may make 'Amycretin' a more effective treatment for obesity than other weight loss drugs like Weygovy and Ozempic. Another trial enrolled 144 adults to test the 'pill version' of 'Amycretin'. Those who took the 100 milligram daily tablet lost an average of 13.1 percent of their weight over 12 weeks. Novo-Nordisk, who are heading up the research into this new medication says initial trials suggest Amycretin could be on the market by next year. Pic: Getty Images The strongest prescription weight loss medication currently approved by the FDA is Semaglutide, marketed under brand names like Wegovy and Ozempic (for diabetes, also used off-label for weight loss).
