I was nicknamed ‘Fat Pal' by friends for years, now Mounjaro has helped me shed 5st and even sparked my new business

Scottish Sun

24-04-2025

A DAD once nicknamed 'Fat Pal' by his friends has dropped five stone in five months after using Mounjaro.
Sean Burns, 32, from Glasgow, said he has 'struggled with excess weight' his whole life and was always 'the heaviest one' in his friendship group, weighing 15st at 5ft 6in.
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Dad-of-two Sean Burns weight 15st before Mounjaro
Credit: Collect/PA Real Life
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He was nicknamed 'Fat Pal' by friends
Credit: Collect/PA Real Life
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Now he's lost 5st in five months
Credit: Collect/PA Real Life
After years of failed diets, snack van lunches like burger and chips, and hiding his body on lads' holidays, he finally found something that worked.
Sean started using Mounjaro in May 2024 after hearing about it from friends – and said the weight 'just fell off'.
Tirzepitide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro, is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs.
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity.'
About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs - and the number is expected to double in the next year.
Mounjaro works by suppressing ­your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over).
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone's weight.
The drugs can be lawfully supplied when prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
But increasingly, people have been buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
I lost 98lb on Mounjaro but it's surprise side benefit that's been life-changing
Only recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.
And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, are now calling for a probe into the jab's "potential to kill."
But Sean, who works as a joiner, said he has gone from wearing an extra-large to a medium or small, ditched junk food and even set up his own weight-loss support business to help others on the same journey.
He said he finally feels like a 'proper' dad and can keep up with his two young children – Faryl Rose, four, and Shay, two – something which felt impossible a year ago.
'My nickname throughout my youth was 'Fat Pal',' Sean said.
'I piled the weight on even more as my wee daughter became a toddler because we had more snacks in the house.
'I was coming home from work, and the first thing I wanted to do was play with the kids – roll around on the floor with them – but every time I did, I needed to lie down.
'I was always out of breath and, after five minutes, I was struggling.
Everything you need to know about weight loss jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed pounds 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.
'I decided that this was enough. I really needed to take action in order to become a proper, fully functioning father.'
Sean had tried countless diets and fitness plans over the years, including the Cambridge diet, but nothing ever stuck.
He said gym workouts were not for him either.
After seeing the transformation of other people including close family members from using Mounjaro, Sean decided to try it for himself.
He said: 'I thought, I may as well try it, what's the worst that could happen? I've tried everything else, why not try this?'
Sean said the results were almost immediate.
'I spent hundreds each month, and at some points, the demand for them was so high that the prices doubled,' he said.
'Paying for it all, however, was worth it… especially considering I would have spent that amount on takeaways, and some.
'After the first course of the four-week pen, I could see the pounds dropping off and I felt better.
'It was the best feeling in the world.'
In just five months, Sean's weight dropped from 15st to just under 10st.
'On lads' holidays, hanging about the pool was always embarrassing,' he said.
'The rest of the lads would be in their shorts, and I would be wearing a t-shirt to go in the pool, hiding in the corner away from everybody because I didn't want to show my belly off.
'In T-shirts, I went from wearing an extra-large to a small or medium. It's a great feeling.
'I can wear clothes I really want to, clothes I like.'
Before using the jab, Sean said his daily food intake was packed with high-fat, high-calorie meals.
He explained: 'I would have a full Scottish breakfast – all fried foods, sausages, potato scones, fried bread etc.
'For lunch, I would grab food from a snack van, usually a burger and chips.
'At dinner time, I would load up my plate with as much food as possible."
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.
Now, Sean says his eating habits are completely different.
'I'm still eating three meals a day, however, the portion size is so much smaller,' he said.
'I no longer crave greasy, unhealthy food, I actually prefer chicken and salad now.'
He has also enlisted the help of a personal trainer and nutritionist to stay on track and avoid loose skin after the dramatic weight loss.
Although Sean has seen positive results, he said one of the biggest problems he noticed was the lack of support available for people using weight-loss medication.
'My experience was that the pen was sold to me – no pre, during or post-care was available,' he said.
'The seller got their money, and that was the end of the story.
'I'm losing weight, my body isn't used to this.
'What nutrients, supplements and vitamins do I need to keep me on the right track?'
That is when he decided to launch SlimResults in January, a business offering doctor-backed advice, nutritional support and round-the-clock help for people using weight-loss jabs.
'We walk them through every step of their weight-loss journey,' he said.
'There is 24/7 support available, and once they have achieved their goal weight, we are still there to support them.
'At SlimResults we are offering the full package: medical, nutritional and PT advice, etc, not just for the duration of customers using the pens, but forever. We will always be there to help.'
Now, for Sean, life looks completely different.
'I'm running about playing in parks with my kids, on the slides, on the swings. I could not do that last year,' he said.
However, he issued a warning to anyone else looking to go on a similar journey.
'I would like to advise anyone embarking on this journey to do your due diligence,' he said.