Inside ‘potentially catastrophic' fat jab crisis that is shrinking Brits

The Sun

6 days ago

FAT JABS have taken the nation's waistline by storm - trimming inches and helping thousands shed weight, and fast.
But it turns out that number on the scales might not be the only thing shrinking.
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While the injections are being hailed a 'game-changer' in the collective fight against obesity - and the deadly diseases linked to being overweight - experts have warned of a silent, but 'potentially catastrophic' crisis looming.
So-called skinny jabs can have a 'frightening' impact on our bones, they tell Sun Health - making people shorter - by up to two inches - increasing the risk of agonising fractures and leaving people facing a lifetime plagued by an 'old-lady bone disease'.
The disease in question is osteoporosis, and as writer and DJ, Sophie Wright, 35, knows only too well it's an agonising, life-changing diagnosis.
'Bone health had never entered my mind,' Sophie tells Sun Health.
'It wasn't even on my radar, it's what your nan might talk about.
'The only reason I found out about my old lady bones, as I call them, is because I broke my femur.'
She is one of an estimated 3.5million Brits already suffering, though many of them live with it unknowingly, according to the British Nutrition Foundation.
Often referred to as a 'silent disease' due to the fact symptoms rarely rear their head until a fracture occurs, it causes bones to weaken, making breaks more likely.
And with weight-loss jabs like Ozempic reducing peoples' appetite, experts are worried that a lack of the right nutrients - including calcium, vitamin D and protein - could result in a rise in cases.
While Sophie is not one of the more than 500,000 Brits reportedly taking weight-loss jabs, she is urging people to think twice, warning: 'I'm sure as hell staying away from Ozempic-like jabs.'
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
It was an innocent step off a wall in October 2023 that led to Sophie discovering her diagnosis.
'I landed on a straight leg and snapped my thigh,' she says.
'The femur is the biggest and hardest bone in your body to break and it's the first bone I've ever broken.
'I got rushed to hospital for an X-ray and found out the bone was trying to poke out. It was grim.
'The surgeon asked if I'd been in a car accident as this was such a high-impact injury.'
That's what people are risking if they choose to take fat jabs to 'lose a few pounds', Sophie warns.
When bone health is compromised, it can lead to a number of serious issues - including increased risk of fractures, slower healing and a higher chance of developing osteoporosis
Professor Franklin Joseph
And the experts agree.
Recent studies have shown that the drugs could contribute to increased bone fragility, especially in the spine and hip.
A study in the journal Nutrition, Obesity, and Exercise found that people taking GLP-1 RA (receptor agonist) had weaker bones as well as signs that their bodies were breaking down bone faster than building it, leading to a net loss of bone mass.
The risk is higher in older adults, women and those with a high Body Mass Index (BMI).
BRITTLE BONES
Professor Franklin Joseph, a consultant physician, diabetes expert and founder of Dr Frank's Weight Loss Clinic, tells Sun Health: 'When bone health is compromised, it can lead to a number of serious issues - including increased risk of fractures, slower healing and a higher chance of developing osteoporosis.
'Over time, bones become less dense, more brittle and more prone to breaks even from minor falls or bumps.
'One of the lesser-known effects is height reduction.
'As the bones in the spine lose density, the vertebrae can begin to compress or collapse slightly, which causes people to become shorter over time.'
While the risk is generally low, when drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy are used without the proper medical supervision, the risk increases, Dr Joseph warns.
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'This is a wake-up call', says Dr Doug Lucas, an orthopaedic surgeon, osteoporosis specialist and adviser at Screen my Bones clinics.
'We're seeing people lose weight rapidly without monitoring the toll it may be taking on their skeletal system.'
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.
But how can weight-loss jabs have such a negative impact on our bones?
The drugs - semaglutide in Wegovy and tirzepatide in Mounjaro - were originally designed to treat diabetes and work by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone that's released in the body when you are full.
The effects include slowing down stomach emptying, acting on the brain to reduce appetite and cravings while boosting insulin, to regulate blood sugar levels.
Dr Lucas says despite some longevity enthusiasts praising the drugs for their anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitising effects, which could be good for bone, 'the current clinical picture doesn't show these outcomes'.
'These drugs are notorious for reducing appetite,' he explains.
'Many people report that they cannot tolerate richer foods that are higher in dietary fat.
'As a result people tend to eat a more carbohydrate rich diet that is lower in protein.'
'CATASTROPHIC IMPACT'
The result, Dr Lucas, explains is that - as studies show - a higher percentage of weight lost using jabs like Ozempic, is lean mass - from both muscle and bone.
'These are critical tissues for maintaining weight loss, metabolic health and more,' he says.
'With tens of millions of adults using or having used GLP-1 drugs, the potential catastrophic impact on bone health is frightening.'
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Sophie, who used to be a professional ice skater, says she wants her experience to serve as a warning to others.
After breaking her femur, she underwent an operation resulting in 'metal work and scaffolding in my leg', which she will have for life.
A DEXA scan then revealed she was suffering osteoporosis.
'I couldn't have scored any lower,' she says.
'I'm essentially made of glass at this point, living a fine line between not wanting to live in fear but still wanting to keep myself safe.
'I still can't fully bend my leg but thankfully I walk normally, and I think I pretty much pass as normal.
'But I know I'm not normal because I'm really brittle, and I'm having to be selective about the risks that I take.
'I've not got a boyfriend, and I always think if I got with someone, is he going to think, 'she's no fun because she's going to be so scared about breaking herself if we go anywhere or do anything'.
'I also found out I'm diabetic as well, and thought about taking Ozempic to help balance my blood sugar.
'But now I just think no, I need to stay away from that.'
Like all medication, weight-loss jabs come with potential risks.
'The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, which can lead to dehydration if not managed carefully,' Prof Joseph says.
'There's also a small risk of gallbladder issues and pancreatitis, though these are relatively rare in well-selected patients.'
BONE FRAGILITY
And if patients don't consume enough calcium, vitamin D and protein, either due to reduced appetite or poor dietary choices, that's when bone health can suffer.
'Bone fragility can lead to fractures, particularly of the hips, spine and wrist,' he adds.
'Beyond the immediate injury, fractures can cause chronic pain, reduced mobility and loss of independence, all of which significantly affect a person's quality of life.
'This is why, when using weight-loss medication, it's vital to support the body properly with enough protein, resistance-based exercise, and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.
'Losing weight doesn't have to come at the expense of your skeleton.'
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Studies have shown that weight-bearing exercises can help prevent bone loss in people using GLP-1 drugs.
One study, published in the journal Nutrition, Obesity, and Exercise, found benefits when volunteers took part in two group exercise classes, and two individual sessions a week.
Group sessions consisted of 30-minutes of interval based indoor cycling, and a 15-minute circuit training session, involving a combination of vigorous aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening moves, using bodyweight or weights.
Meanwhile, individual sessions involved moderate to vigorous workouts - typically, running, cycling, brisk walking and/or circuit training.
'Regular weight-bearing and strength-based exercise stimulates bone formation and protects against loss,' says Prof Joseph.
'We also advise all patients on jabs like Ozempic or Wegovy to also maintain a nutrient-rich diet, with sufficient calcium, vitamin D and protein.'