Top comedian Alison Spittle speaks out on fat jabs and online abuse
Speaking to Brendan O'Connor on RTE Radio 1 this morning (Saturday) the popular comedian broke down in tears when describing her life as an overweight woman, the reactions of the world around her, and the difficulties when people only see you as 'fat' and don't see you for who you are.
Taking the listener back to her childhood she recalled a memory of when she had to attend a doctor after catching her hand in a car door, and the doctor made comments about her weight, as an eight-year-old child. Comedian Alison Spittle has spoken publicly about life as a 'fat b***h', (her own phrase), and how she has changed her life by taking the weight loss jab Mounjaro. Pic: RTE
She says in her experience doctors are the worst for judging people on their weight, citing an experience when she asked a medical professional about the possibility of being prescribed weight loss injections, the doctor replied 'I don't believe in easy outs'.
It's as if doctors want to punish people for being fat by making them work harder to lose weight.
Alison recalled being hospitalised with cellulitis last year and being told while there that she was pre-diabetic and needed to lose weight. The London-born funny woman told how her cellulitis – a skin infection which affects deep layers of tissue, actually turned into septicaemia which left her very unwell and completely bedridden for several months. Taking the listener back to her childhood she recalled a memory of when she had to attend a doctor after catching her hand in a car door, and the doctor made comments about her weight, as an eight-year-old child. Pic: RTÉ
Admitting she had never tried to lose weight before, but realising this was best medical advice, she was prescribed the weight loss injection Mounjaro and it has changed her life.
'I miss less buses now' she joked.
The title of Alison Spittle's new show is quite daring, entitled 'Fat B***h', Alison says the name of the show is very fitting as she has endured this name calling all her life, but the show sees Alison reflect both on her own experience of life as a bigger woman, and society's unhealthy attitudes to size, all wrapped up in what can be best described as 'a joyful comedy show' Admitting she had never tried to lose weight before, but realising this was best medical advice, she was prescribed the weight loss injection Mounjaro and it has changed her life.
She has since had to modify the name for her shows in Edinburgh as the council there wouldn't allow the title Fat B***h on posters around the city. She has renamed the show 'BIG'.
Speaking to the Anglo Celt newspaper earlier this year, Alison reflected on her life as a child and said 'If I wasn't fat when I was younger I don't think I'd be a comedian now, because I don't think I'd bother trying to be funny. Trying to be funny is the thing you pick up when you're younger and it's always to deflect from something.'
But what about the attitudes of people to the popularity of weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Ozempic, Spittle finds it difficult to understand why anyone would have a negative reaction to it, and when people say its the easy way out, she retorts 'What? Do you want someone to have a hard time'?
'I explain my instinctive reaction against such drugs would be the fear that perfectly healthy people would take it when they have no need'.
She believes the huge popularity and surge in the use of weight loss jabs provides a valuable insight into how society treats 'fat people'.
'If they feel that scared about being fat, it's because they feel that scared about being treated like s**t and we have to then acknowledge that fat people don't get treated that nicely.'
Alison Spittle, much loved and still as funny as ever, takes to the stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from July 29th to August 24th before returning to Ireland for the Big Dublin Fringe September 16th to 20th.
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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? 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Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at 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. A calorie deficit is often touted as the key to weight loss - it's when you consume fewer calories than you burn in a day. Calories are the energy you get from food, fuelling everything from breathing to exercise. When you're in a calorie deficit, your body draws on stored energy (primarily fat) to make up the difference, which can lead to weight loss over time. To reach a calorie deficit, you need to either eat fewer calories, increase physical activity or do a combination of both. For example, if your calories are 2,000 per day, reducing to 1,500 calories or boosting physical activity by 500 calories would create a deficit. However, it's worth emphasising that creating a calorie deficit isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Factors like age, how active you are, health conditions and metabolic rate - the speed at which your body burns calories at rest - can all affect your personal calorie needs. Thanks to being mindful, Lucy's managed to lose weight - whilst still consuming a variety of foods, including sweet potato fries which typically tend to be more fatty. However, that doesn't mean Lucy eats like this all the time - there have also been plenty of occasions when the foodie has opted for healthier, more veggie-heavy options to keep the calories lower. ''You can still enjoy eating out on Mounjaro,'' Lucy wrote in the caption. 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. The reality of Mounjaro Although many have boasted about A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking The common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe dehydration. And if that wasn't bad enough, doctors say they have also seen 'life-threatening complications', including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas. Model Lottie Moss, 27, even said The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK stressed: 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data. 'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.'
