MPs must shed the stigma around weight loss jabs – they’ve helped me drop six stone
Weightloss drug Mounjaro (Adobe)
3 min read
Since taking weight loss medication, I have lost six stone – so far – reaching my first goal of no longer being clinically obese. I know that I am not alone amongst my colleagues in taking this kind of drug, and yet there is still such a stigma around it.
We must wake up to the reality that the UK is facing an obesity crisis at such a scale it requires urgent attention and bold action from the government. The impact it is having on the healthcare system, economy and indeed individual lives is undeniable. Obesity-related illness costs the NHS an estimated £6.5bn a year, but some estimates could be as high as £11bn – not to mention the indirect costs from lost productivity and mental health challenges.
As someone who has struggled with my weight for much of my life, I have seen this issue from a deeply personal perspective. My experience has shown me how challenging it is to lose weight – and, more importantly, how much prejudice surrounds this topic. Whether you’re underweight or overweight; whether you are working to address it, or addressing it the ‘wrong’ way, there is an overwhelming amount of noise and unfair judgement wrapped up in associating weight with morality.
For years, I tried to lose weight through sheer willpower and dieting alone. I have been subject to endless advice advocating as such. However, for me, and many others, this is not enough. The UK has one of the highest adult obesity rates in Europe, with over a quarter of our population clinically obese. We need a new approach.
We now have a scientific, medical intervention ready to be deployed. I’ve heard people question the morality of using drugs to lose weight, as though it’s somehow cheating. This kind of judgment ignores the reality of obesity as a complex condition influenced by genetics, hormones, mental health and lifestyle factors.
I look forward to the day my parliamentary colleagues feel they can reveal their use of weight loss medication and not be judged
The referral waiting list to NHS bariatric services can be as much as 18 months or longer, with extreme parameters to even qualify. This year, NICE-published guidance has indicated weight loss drug Mounjaro can be rolled out on the NHS – but over 12 years, and I question how much wraparound support will be provided.
In the meantime, since taking Wegovy and embarking on a wraparound programme of building up my fitness, I have moved from a body mass index of 42 to 28. In time, I will move to a maintenance phase and continue to follow a regime of exercise.
There are always side effects to any drug, but it hard to know whether occassional nausea and lack of energy are related to the medication or the stain on your body of having to lose weight.
The removal of alcohol, cakes, crisps, sweets and buscuits was a harsh change for my body but you must push through. After two or three weeks, not only did the withdrawals subside but the results became noticeable and, in turn, self-motivating.
Weight loss medication isn’t a silver bullet but, coupled with behavioural changes, it is very effective. The more we choose to ignore that, the more people – and the economy – will suffer.
The government must listen to those with experience of obesity. It should adopt a multi-faceted approach, which includes access to weight loss medication, alongside support around nutrition, and policies that make healthier food options more affordable and accessible.
These can all be done in conjunction with each other, not in competition. These drugs aren’t just about weight loss; they have the potential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve mental health, and alleviate the enormous strain on the NHS. I look forward to the day my parliamentary colleagues feel they can reveal their use of weight loss medication and not be judged.
