Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do we REALLY think about the weight loss jabs?

832 replies

Newbabynewhouse · 20/09/2026 21:52

I've put this on AIBU rather than weight loss jab because I want a neutral audience rather than people who are all using the jab.
What are peoples thoughts on the jab? I'd love to hear from someone educated in the medical field about whether these are actually safe for people without diabetes.
I'm obese and I have lost a stone so far by dieting although it's taking me a long time! I know if I keep trying hard I can lose what I need to. Lots of people I know have started dropping weight from using the jabs and I am tempted however, can't shake a feeling that there's something not quite right.
What I mean by this is... these jabs have been around for years for diabetic people, so why have they only just been 'released' to people despite obesity effecting the NHS for years?
I know a woman who fainted in work the other day with gallbladder issues, she's on the jab.
Also, I'm going to sound a little conspiracy theorist now, but, isn't it odd these jabs became popular straight after people starting refusing to have more covid jabs..?.. I'd love to hear from people with a bit of background info or medical professionals to tell me whether I'm overthinking or if I'm onto something?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Thread gallery
6
BurnoutGP · Yesterday 18:41

Me too I wish people wouldn't post such nonsense. I've lost 5 and half stone over 2 years on mounjaro. I look 10 years younger. My blotchy bloated (sad) face is now healthy ! I walk loads and play sport once a week. My health has improved 100 fold.
Its bitterness and loss of their skinny moral superiority they just cant bear it.

Stormyrose · Yesterday 16:15

FlorenceLawrence · Yesterday 16:11

Yes totally agree - exercise to curb muscle loss is very important, especially as we age.
I do have some Marionette lines, which I've been thinking about getting filler in, but this is just age combined with weight loss, not specifically due to WLIs.
I had what my sister calls "carb face" before - sort of doughy, fat face where the fat smoothed out all the lines, but not in a remotely attractive way!

Yeah me too, I took a selfie of my daughter and I before I lost weight and I couldn’t work out whay was wrong with my face, it was so puffy and well fat. It wasn’t remotely attractive, or youthful,

FlorenceLawrence · Yesterday 16:11

Stormyrose · Yesterday 15:58

I’ve noticed that, I know 7 people on tnem, they all look much healthier, sort of glowy, I assume it’s as their bodies are healthier. It’s a mix of men and women.

me, I lost over 6 stone and when I hit goal I did look like I’d lost weight, not on my face, but my body when I was naked, or in under wear/swimwear.

i didn’t really have much loose skin as such, but crepey upper arms, some minor folds under my backside and some loose skin on my tummy if I twisted, but I went straight into body recomp, and it’s all gone. I’ve been this weight for over 18 months, you’d never look at me and know I have lost weight now , you’d think I was always this weight.

my daughter is very blunt with me, and when I hit goal she commented I looked thin and you could see I lost weight, a few months ago she proactively commented and said you can’t tell any more, you just look normal 😂

my face I think looked younger when I hit goal , but I then had some filler into my nasio labial fold and marionette lines, and wow what a difference, she restored lost volume and did a fantastic job, it’s completely natural looking. However I would have had that ageing anyway due to age,

I never ever thought my double chin, or puffy face or matronly bust on a big belly was youthful and I never met anyone who looks at someone’s face in isolation, more they look at the overall package. And for my money, being a healthy weight is always more youthful on people than under or over weight. And I see that in my friends, for myself, we are our own harshest critics.

but I do think when you hit goal it’s important to do body recomp. Rebuild any lost muscle and give your body time for the skin to shrink back naturally . I’m off on holiday in a few weeks and I look very different in my swimwear now than I did a year ago. Fat goes soft as it shrinks, but when you stop losing weight it firms up, giving a much firmer appearance, and then when you combine it with increased muscle, and skin which has tightened over time. It can alter someone’s appearance noticeably

Yes totally agree - exercise to curb muscle loss is very important, especially as we age.
I do have some Marionette lines, which I've been thinking about getting filler in, but this is just age combined with weight loss, not specifically due to WLIs.
I had what my sister calls "carb face" before - sort of doughy, fat face where the fat smoothed out all the lines, but not in a remotely attractive way!

ThreadGuardDog · Yesterday 16:10

Stormyrose · Yesterday 15:58

I’ve noticed that, I know 7 people on tnem, they all look much healthier, sort of glowy, I assume it’s as their bodies are healthier. It’s a mix of men and women.

me, I lost over 6 stone and when I hit goal I did look like I’d lost weight, not on my face, but my body when I was naked, or in under wear/swimwear.

i didn’t really have much loose skin as such, but crepey upper arms, some minor folds under my backside and some loose skin on my tummy if I twisted, but I went straight into body recomp, and it’s all gone. I’ve been this weight for over 18 months, you’d never look at me and know I have lost weight now , you’d think I was always this weight.

my daughter is very blunt with me, and when I hit goal she commented I looked thin and you could see I lost weight, a few months ago she proactively commented and said you can’t tell any more, you just look normal 😂

my face I think looked younger when I hit goal , but I then had some filler into my nasio labial fold and marionette lines, and wow what a difference, she restored lost volume and did a fantastic job, it’s completely natural looking. However I would have had that ageing anyway due to age,

I never ever thought my double chin, or puffy face or matronly bust on a big belly was youthful and I never met anyone who looks at someone’s face in isolation, more they look at the overall package. And for my money, being a healthy weight is always more youthful on people than under or over weight. And I see that in my friends, for myself, we are our own harshest critics.

but I do think when you hit goal it’s important to do body recomp. Rebuild any lost muscle and give your body time for the skin to shrink back naturally . I’m off on holiday in a few weeks and I look very different in my swimwear now than I did a year ago. Fat goes soft as it shrinks, but when you stop losing weight it firms up, giving a much firmer appearance, and then when you combine it with increased muscle, and skin which has tightened over time. It can alter someone’s appearance noticeably

My DH has type 2 diabetes and was put on the jabs in January. He’s in chronic heart failure and has severe peripheral arterial disease resulting in the loss of both legs. Since he’s been on Mounjaro not only has his blood sugar been brought down to pretty much normal levels but his heart, liver and kidney function have all improved and his overall health is much better. His diabetes nurse told me confidentially that she hopes eventually Mounjaro will be available to everyone in controlled doses because it seems to improve overall health

Stormyrose · Yesterday 15:58

FlorenceLawrence · Yesterday 15:40

I know 5 people on the jabs - all look amazing so far. My neighbour looks years younger actually, the weight seemed to make her look older. No sign of ozempic face or whatever, just looking healthier with a slimmer face & loss of the double chins. Me & my neighbour have both lost between 4-5 stone each - so perhaps loose skin isn't too much a problem with that loss. I have some loose skin on my stomach, but tbh that's probably as much to do with 3 pregnancies as MJ.

I do think people that are against the WLI have a bit of bitterness, that we're losing weight too easily or something - we should suffer more. Some of it's just bitchy, "oh she's lost the weight but she looks so old now - like people aren't allowed a win and just to be happy, there just HAS to be a downside. It's judgy - women are always being judged for something, not thin enough, no that's too thin now! Not young enough...

I’ve noticed that, I know 7 people on tnem, they all look much healthier, sort of glowy, I assume it’s as their bodies are healthier. It’s a mix of men and women.

me, I lost over 6 stone and when I hit goal I did look like I’d lost weight, not on my face, but my body when I was naked, or in under wear/swimwear.

i didn’t really have much loose skin as such, but crepey upper arms, some minor folds under my backside and some loose skin on my tummy if I twisted, but I went straight into body recomp, and it’s all gone. I’ve been this weight for over 18 months, you’d never look at me and know I have lost weight now , you’d think I was always this weight.

my daughter is very blunt with me, and when I hit goal she commented I looked thin and you could see I lost weight, a few months ago she proactively commented and said you can’t tell any more, you just look normal 😂

my face I think looked younger when I hit goal , but I then had some filler into my nasio labial fold and marionette lines, and wow what a difference, she restored lost volume and did a fantastic job, it’s completely natural looking. However I would have had that ageing anyway due to age,

I never ever thought my double chin, or puffy face or matronly bust on a big belly was youthful and I never met anyone who looks at someone’s face in isolation, more they look at the overall package. And for my money, being a healthy weight is always more youthful on people than under or over weight. And I see that in my friends, for myself, we are our own harshest critics.

but I do think when you hit goal it’s important to do body recomp. Rebuild any lost muscle and give your body time for the skin to shrink back naturally . I’m off on holiday in a few weeks and I look very different in my swimwear now than I did a year ago. Fat goes soft as it shrinks, but when you stop losing weight it firms up, giving a much firmer appearance, and then when you combine it with increased muscle, and skin which has tightened over time. It can alter someone’s appearance noticeably

Stormyrose · Yesterday 15:41

Fatasawalrus · Yesterday 11:01

I completely agree and when you read the long list of benefits, isn’t it quite sad and wrong that these are currently only available to the few free of charge or the many who can afford the extra cost. I don’t grudge others - I’m pleased for them genuinely - just a bit feeling if only …

Yes this is where I take issue as well, the WHO issued an edict and said all countries with a functioning health care system should make them available to their populations and to tackle the cost issue, but of course it’s not that simple.

in the uk we don’t have the money in the nhs to pay for them, the government needs people to pay privately. Get healthier, thus using less nhs resource and freeing it up to be spent elsewhere.they estimated it would cost 9 billion a year to treat everyone eligible with the meds. However the nhs plan to prescribe to 200k people in 3 years is shockingly low.

the price will come down, there are many other meds in final stages now.and of course the pharma companies need to not just recoup the billions they spent on development and testing but infrastructure, they need to make a return on that investment, whilst continuing to develop the next round of meds, which will arguably sell for less due to competition. It will become a crowded market but s few years to go. Right now two players have a global stranglehold.

trump did try but all he succeeded in doing is increasing the uk price and a marginal reduction in the USA. Governments can’t dictate what private companies sell for. The manufacturers need to balance between affordability and making a return. As well as the value of the product, it is not priced on a cost plus model. But a market value one.

in a decade it will be widely available at a much lower cost. Maybe even in 5 years, with prices slowly coming down. But it’s a shame so so many now would benefit from the medication and can’t access it. And so many of those will die or have life altering impacts due to their obesity.

thr nhs spends over 14 billion a year on obesity and obesity related illnesses. 14 billion. But that will reduce the more people use the meds. But it will take time. The USA is only now seeing obesity rates reverse, and they have had it longer than us and more widely available due to the insurance structure there.

FlorenceLawrence · Yesterday 15:40

I know 5 people on the jabs - all look amazing so far. My neighbour looks years younger actually, the weight seemed to make her look older. No sign of ozempic face or whatever, just looking healthier with a slimmer face & loss of the double chins. Me & my neighbour have both lost between 4-5 stone each - so perhaps loose skin isn't too much a problem with that loss. I have some loose skin on my stomach, but tbh that's probably as much to do with 3 pregnancies as MJ.

I do think people that are against the WLI have a bit of bitterness, that we're losing weight too easily or something - we should suffer more. Some of it's just bitchy, "oh she's lost the weight but she looks so old now - like people aren't allowed a win and just to be happy, there just HAS to be a downside. It's judgy - women are always being judged for something, not thin enough, no that's too thin now! Not young enough...

MoneyJo · Yesterday 15:18

Grapewrath · Yesterday 12:28

The people who I know who have taken it have aged very quickly. I’m not sure if that’s to do with what’s in the jab itself or sudden weight loss
I suppose it’s a small price to pay to be healthier and no longer obsese.
Since menopause I’ve struggled with my weight and need low calories and to weight train a lot. It’s very boring and hard work and takes a lot of willpower…I’m not tempted by the jabs but i can certainly see why people are

That's interesting. I've noticed the opposite. I guess it depends how fast the weight loss happens. I, and everyone I know on the jabs, have gone for a sensible rate of weight loss and I think we all look younger and more energetic. I've had so many people comment on how well I look.

Stormyrose · Yesterday 12:38

Allisnotlost1 · Yesterday 12:09

Thanks for confirming that no-one said what you claimed.

I’m really not irate, it’s mildly amusing watching you make false statements but that’s all. I’m certainly not spending my evenings reflecting on things you’ve said.

You’re denying your own post ? 😂

Grapewrath · Yesterday 12:28

The people who I know who have taken it have aged very quickly. I’m not sure if that’s to do with what’s in the jab itself or sudden weight loss
I suppose it’s a small price to pay to be healthier and no longer obsese.
Since menopause I’ve struggled with my weight and need low calories and to weight train a lot. It’s very boring and hard work and takes a lot of willpower…I’m not tempted by the jabs but i can certainly see why people are

Allisnotlost1 · Yesterday 12:09

Stormyrose · Yesterday 11:45

Gosh you are getting irate, and here is where you said it. Because if they don’t maintain a green space then what else are they doing but concreting over it.

but the only relevance was that simply losing weight isn’t a panacea so it’s quite important that we collectively maintain expectations on governments to make sure green space, public transport, healthy food, etc are accessible because just reducing obesity through drugs is not enough

maybe you need to step away if you’re getting upset, as you’re becoming hyperbolic with the inject kids and people who have a history of obesity in their family. It’s maybe best for you to come to terms with the fact we can take these drugs and be slim

Thanks for confirming that no-one said what you claimed.

I’m really not irate, it’s mildly amusing watching you make false statements but that’s all. I’m certainly not spending my evenings reflecting on things you’ve said.

Allisnotlost1 · Yesterday 12:00

AWomanOfWealthAndTaste · Yesterday 08:02

People being offered WLIs when they don't want them is definitely bad, but it self-evidently coexists with an obesogenic environment that's a huge problem now and also was pre WLIs. That was getting worse not better, was never tackled and there's never been any indication that it was going to be successfully tackled at any time. I do agree there's a worrying tendency to equate thin with morally good but again this is a longstanding problem.

The second paragraph as it relates to me is projection. I not only don't see any criticism from you specifically about my own choices but would be amused to receive any. It has no more validity than anything I might pull out of my arse about you.

I’m pleased you haven’t interpreted anything I’ve said as criticism of you, because I haven’t intended to be critical of you, or indeed of anyone.

Stormyrose · Yesterday 11:45

Allisnotlost1 · Yesterday 11:10

I’d love to know where anyone suggested governments would ‘concrete over green spaces because medications exist’.

The health benefits are indeed huge, arguably we should make these drugs available for a wider group of the population. But currently they’re only available for weight related issues and diabetes. So it’s legitimate to wonder what this incredible cure might mean for the still enormous problem of prevention. Maybe we should preventively offer WLIs, to children or people with family history of obesity, because prevention is always better.

Gosh you are getting irate, and here is where you said it. Because if they don’t maintain a green space then what else are they doing but concreting over it.

but the only relevance was that simply losing weight isn’t a panacea so it’s quite important that we collectively maintain expectations on governments to make sure green space, public transport, healthy food, etc are accessible because just reducing obesity through drugs is not enough

maybe you need to step away if you’re getting upset, as you’re becoming hyperbolic with the inject kids and people who have a history of obesity in their family. It’s maybe best for you to come to terms with the fact we can take these drugs and be slim

Allisnotlost1 · Yesterday 11:10

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:25

I was thinking about this thread with amusement this morning, the posters obsessed with these medications which they don’t take and trying to play it off as an altruistic concern for health.

yet fail to mention any of the health benefits of the drugs, from reduced cancers on, fail to mention the very real life limiting and ending impacts of obesity, fail to mention the cost to societies of obesity,

but focus on minor rare risks, women’s bodies, theoretical situations of people eating unhealthy and injecting, or governments (and this one really made me laugh) concreting over green spaces as the medications exist,

everyone can see what their issues are, no matter how much they are at pains to hide it, it’s almost laughable if it wasn’t so tragic,

I’d love to know where anyone suggested governments would ‘concrete over green spaces because medications exist’.

The health benefits are indeed huge, arguably we should make these drugs available for a wider group of the population. But currently they’re only available for weight related issues and diabetes. So it’s legitimate to wonder what this incredible cure might mean for the still enormous problem of prevention. Maybe we should preventively offer WLIs, to children or people with family history of obesity, because prevention is always better.

Fatasawalrus · Yesterday 11:01

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:36

Yes on here and Reddit, the huge huge improvement in people’s health is indisputable.

and it’s proven the health benefits, so far we know

reduction in inflammation, which allows internal organs to regenerate, every time we get sick or suffer damage, our cells retain a marker of that, and that marker is inflammation, when you remove the inflammation our cells regenerate, resulting in a slowing, ceasing, or in some they have now seen, a reversal in ageing,

improved cardio vascular health and treatment of cardio vascular disease

improved liver function and reduction of fatty liver disease

reduced cancers , inc with mounjaro a reduction of 69 percent of pancreatic cancer instances

improved blood sugar control

optimal insulin response

both resulting in less cravings and healthier diets.

yes every med comes with some risk, but we know these are very rare with these meds, and if the posters taking issue put forward a balanced argument , citing the reasons they exist, recognising the up tick in people’s health, the fact obesity is the biggest killer in society, I’d engage in a sensible discussion

but they don’t.

I completely agree and when you read the long list of benefits, isn’t it quite sad and wrong that these are currently only available to the few free of charge or the many who can afford the extra cost. I don’t grudge others - I’m pleased for them genuinely - just a bit feeling if only …

fuckeditupbadly · Yesterday 09:07

Just a small example on that, having lost 2.5 st of the probably 4 I could do with losing, I have now gone back to exercising. Running, swimming, hiking that I felt uncomfortable, sweaty, heavy doing before. Im pretty skint so have paused my subscription to see if I can maintain or lose without the low dose I was on now that my activity is much increased. I've had basically no side effects and the side by side thread I'm on on the WL boards have reported similar. Yes, issues can happen but the negative reactions to WLI is out of all proportion and not seen in relation to ANY other kind of medication.

The social impact of them, frankly, is not my problem. If it reinforces the message that slim is better for your health (slim not skinny) I have no issue with that. Bottom line is is no-one else's concern.

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:36

MoneyJo · Yesterday 08:27

That's a very good point. You only have to spend a short time on the WLI board on here to see so many positives from so many people. Of course there are some negatives too but so so many positives.

Yes on here and Reddit, the huge huge improvement in people’s health is indisputable.

and it’s proven the health benefits, so far we know

reduction in inflammation, which allows internal organs to regenerate, every time we get sick or suffer damage, our cells retain a marker of that, and that marker is inflammation, when you remove the inflammation our cells regenerate, resulting in a slowing, ceasing, or in some they have now seen, a reversal in ageing,

improved cardio vascular health and treatment of cardio vascular disease

improved liver function and reduction of fatty liver disease

reduced cancers , inc with mounjaro a reduction of 69 percent of pancreatic cancer instances

improved blood sugar control

optimal insulin response

both resulting in less cravings and healthier diets.

yes every med comes with some risk, but we know these are very rare with these meds, and if the posters taking issue put forward a balanced argument , citing the reasons they exist, recognising the up tick in people’s health, the fact obesity is the biggest killer in society, I’d engage in a sensible discussion

but they don’t.

MoneyJo · Yesterday 08:27

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:25

I was thinking about this thread with amusement this morning, the posters obsessed with these medications which they don’t take and trying to play it off as an altruistic concern for health.

yet fail to mention any of the health benefits of the drugs, from reduced cancers on, fail to mention the very real life limiting and ending impacts of obesity, fail to mention the cost to societies of obesity,

but focus on minor rare risks, women’s bodies, theoretical situations of people eating unhealthy and injecting, or governments (and this one really made me laugh) concreting over green spaces as the medications exist,

everyone can see what their issues are, no matter how much they are at pains to hide it, it’s almost laughable if it wasn’t so tragic,

That's a very good point. You only have to spend a short time on the WLI board on here to see so many positives from so many people. Of course there are some negatives too but so so many positives.

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:25

I was thinking about this thread with amusement this morning, the posters obsessed with these medications which they don’t take and trying to play it off as an altruistic concern for health.

yet fail to mention any of the health benefits of the drugs, from reduced cancers on, fail to mention the very real life limiting and ending impacts of obesity, fail to mention the cost to societies of obesity,

but focus on minor rare risks, women’s bodies, theoretical situations of people eating unhealthy and injecting, or governments (and this one really made me laugh) concreting over green spaces as the medications exist,

everyone can see what their issues are, no matter how much they are at pains to hide it, it’s almost laughable if it wasn’t so tragic,

Stormyrose · Yesterday 08:20

AWomanOfWealthAndTaste · Yesterday 08:02

People being offered WLIs when they don't want them is definitely bad, but it self-evidently coexists with an obesogenic environment that's a huge problem now and also was pre WLIs. That was getting worse not better, was never tackled and there's never been any indication that it was going to be successfully tackled at any time. I do agree there's a worrying tendency to equate thin with morally good but again this is a longstanding problem.

The second paragraph as it relates to me is projection. I not only don't see any criticism from you specifically about my own choices but would be amused to receive any. It has no more validity than anything I might pull out of my arse about you.

I agree with much of what you say, but I’m not sure it is bad to be honest to offer the med if you don’t wish, there was a medical reason they were offered, she declined.

Most people do wish medication to help them.

But of course we can all decline. does not matter what it is, from statins to blood pressure meds to chemo, everyone has a right to choose, but the majority of people offered a medication for a medical need wish the medication, that poster didn’t, but I don’t see it as bad of a doctor ro offer, and offer more than once if they feel fhe patients health would benefit,

AWomanOfWealthAndTaste · Yesterday 08:02

Allisnotlost1 · 25/09/2026 20:10

I think these issues affect multiple groups, which is why I mentioned it. At least one pp said she was sick of being offered WLIs, and I think we were slowly getting to a better place on body image for girls, which is very clearly being undone via celebrity diet culture. That’s not the fault of obese individuals, it’s just an element of WLI availability and effectiveness that plays into culture. Unhealthy is unhealthy, if weight is the cause of it losing the weight is necessary, but for reasons I’ve said I think we’re regressing a bit to the idea of thin = healthy/morally good.

I wasn’t accusing you of saying anything, my point is that I’m not averse to anyone disagreeing however strongly, but my impression is several posters, including you at times, seem stuck on their personal experience of WLIs being positive and assume any discussion of the wider issues is critique of them/their weight/their choices. It isn’t.

People being offered WLIs when they don't want them is definitely bad, but it self-evidently coexists with an obesogenic environment that's a huge problem now and also was pre WLIs. That was getting worse not better, was never tackled and there's never been any indication that it was going to be successfully tackled at any time. I do agree there's a worrying tendency to equate thin with morally good but again this is a longstanding problem.

The second paragraph as it relates to me is projection. I not only don't see any criticism from you specifically about my own choices but would be amused to receive any. It has no more validity than anything I might pull out of my arse about you.

MoneyJo · 25/09/2026 21:42

Allisnotlost1 · 25/09/2026 20:58

🤣 Don’t tell the VC!

Uh huh.

Stormyrose · 25/09/2026 21:40

Allisnotlost1 · 25/09/2026 21:06

I definitely saw a change in older teens/young adult women over the last 10 years or so, much more fashionable to have big bums and thighs, for example.

No, clearly public health shouldn’t be informed by celebrity culture, but some of the public’s health obviously is informed by that isn’t it?

And yet you continue to ignore two thirds of rhe population are over weight obese, you focus only on women becoming slim,

Allisnotlost1 · 25/09/2026 21:37

SilenceInside · 25/09/2026 21:15

Yes, there has never been a pause in the endless focus on the size or shape of women. It doesn't come from a place of concern about health or ever relate to health goals, even if the trend is about "big bums and thighs". That particular one led to the insane idea of injecting silicone into that area, or implants or fat transfers. Deadly in some cases. None of the focusses are any better or worse than any other, really. It's all unhealthy and a symptom of sexism, misogyny, a shallow society, capitalism and so on.

Agree, definitely none of it comes from a place of health or concern, though some of these things trick us by promoting ‘wellness’. It’s serving capitalist interests and keeping us poor and tired.

SilenceInside · 25/09/2026 21:15

Yes, there has never been a pause in the endless focus on the size or shape of women. It doesn't come from a place of concern about health or ever relate to health goals, even if the trend is about "big bums and thighs". That particular one led to the insane idea of injecting silicone into that area, or implants or fat transfers. Deadly in some cases. None of the focusses are any better or worse than any other, really. It's all unhealthy and a symptom of sexism, misogyny, a shallow society, capitalism and so on.

Swipe left for the next trending thread