Latest news with #AmyKane
New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
In Some Ozempic Households, the Weight Loss is Contagious
When Amy Kane started taking Mounjaro in 2022, she expected to lose weight — which she did, dropping more than 170 pounds. What Ms. Kane, a 36-year-old content creator in Chicago, didn't expect was for the effects on her health to be contagious. Soon after she started the medication, her husband and children began eating more healthfully — and then became more physically active, too. As medications like Ozempic transform the health of millions of Americans, some families are discovering a surprising side effect: family members who are not taking the drugs are changing their relationship with food and in some cases, losing weight as well. There isn't data yet to show how frequently this might occur, but medical experts have long observed similar effects with other weight-loss treatments, said Dr. Lydia Alexander, the former president of the Obesity Medicine Association. One study of bariatric surgery patients found that two-thirds of partners lost weight within a year of their spouse's operation, with overweight partners showing the most significant changes. Another study of participants with diabetes in a weight loss program found that spouses who weren't undergoing any treatment lost an average of nearly five pounds and consumed significantly fewer calories from fat. And anecdotally, providers around the country said they are already seeing a similar effect with the families of patients taking drugs like Ozempic. 'These medications don't just change appetite, they transform family dynamics,' said Dr. Joey Skelton, professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. By 2024, about one in eight U.S. adults had taken Ozempic or a similar drug, meaning tens of millions of spouses, children and other family members could also be experiencing some effect from these medications without ever taking them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I shed 11st in 14 months on fat jabs and kept it off for a YEAR despite side effect – and being skinny is great
AFTER "fighting a losing battle" with her weight for years, a mum shed 11st in a matter months with the help of weight loss jabs. Amy Kane, 34, was able to keep the weight off for a year - but experienced a side effect that's all too common for Advertisement 11 Amy Kane struggled with her weight for years due to PCOS Credit: Cover Images 11 After being diagnosed with diabetes in 2022, she decided to try weight loss jabs Credit: Cover Images 11 The mum shed 11st stone in a matter of months Credit: Cover Images 11 Her rapid weight loss left her with loose skin around her belly Credit: Cover Images The mum-of-three spent most of her adult life hiding behind baggy 4XL clothes, dodging cameras and feeling like a stranger in her own body. After years of Over the course of 14 months, she watched pounds drop off and was left feeling more confident than ever. But Amy's rapid weigh loss also left her with loose skin around her belly that "reminded [her] every day of who [she] used to be". Advertisement She decided to undergo surgery to remove the excess skin and now says she's entering a new chapter of her life. 'My jiggle belly is gone,' Amy, from Chicago, beamed in a recent post-op update. 'And I finally feel like I belong in my own skin.' Amy's struggle with her weight began at just 13, when she was diagnosed with Advertisement Most read in Diet & Nutrition Exclusive 'I felt like I was fighting a losing battle,' she recalled. 'I would starve myself, then binge. I'd try every fad diet out there, but nothing worked. PCOS made it feel like my body was working against me.' Weight loss jab fad left me fighting for my life After having three children, Amy tipped the scale at over 300lbs. She said: 'I wasn't living. I was surviving.' Advertisement It wasn't until the mum was diagnosed with diabetes in 2022 that everything changed. She added: 'That diagnosis scared me straight. I had to get healthy – for myself and my kids.' 11 Amy tried a number of fad diets over the years Credit: Cover Images 11 After having three kids, she felt like she was fighting a losing battle with keeping her weight down Credit: Cover Images Advertisement 11 Amy said her lose skin exacerbated feelings of body dysmorphia Credit: Cover Images 11 She went under the knife in March to remove it Credit: Cover Images Amy completely overhauled her lifestyle in October 2022, eliminating sugar from her diet. These days, Amy shares her go-to healthy meals and simple swaps on TikTok - from high-protein breakfasts to quick, low-sugar dinners her kids enjoy too. Advertisement She said: 'I've learned how to fuel my body without feeling deprived — and that's been key.' She began walking daily and, eventually, turned to weight loss jab Mounjaro. But not everyone has been kind. 'People online say I 'cheated' because I used weight-loss injections,' Amy admitted. Advertisement 'But they don't see the blood, sweat, and tears behind the scenes. Losing 160lbs isn't easy, no matter how you do it.' 'I fee whole again' After maintaining her weight loss for over a year, Amy made the decision to go under the knife in March 2025 to remove the excess skin from her tummy and lift her breasts — the final hurdle in what she calls her 'healing era.' 'I wasn't someone who obsessed over loose skin,' she explained. 'At first, I just wanted to feel better. But once I lost the weight, I was still stuck with this skin that reminded me every day of who I used to be. Advertisement "I struggle with Amy, now feeling confident and comfortable in her own skin, says she has no plans for more cosmetic procedures. 'This was it for me. This was the finale. I feel whole again,' she said. She's back home recovering with her husband and three kids by her side. Advertisement 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 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. 'This journey has been about more than weight loss. It's about reclaiming my life, healing old wounds, and showing my kids that it's never too late to change,' she said. Her advice to others battling body image issues? 'Be kind to yourself. Take it one day at a time. And don't let anyone tell you your path isn't valid. If you want to lose 10lbs or 200lbs — you deserve to feel good in your skin,' she advised. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Now, as she enters the final chapter of her transformation, she hopes to inspire others to put their health first — whatever that looks like. 'Being skinny is great,' she said. 'But being happy? That's everything.' 11 Amy is now recovering from her surgery Credit: Cover Images 11 She said being happy beats being skinny Credit: Cover Images Advertisement 11 She pleaded with others in her position to be kind of themselves Credit: Cover Images
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I love my new Ozempic body and I'd take the shots all over again — but there's one unsettling downside
She's tying up loose ends. Amy Kane is a poster girl for trendy weight loss shots like Ozempic, having dropped from a size 24 to a size 4 in less than two years while on the pricey jabs. But the mom of three's eyebrow-raising journey, starting at 300 lbs. and going all the way down to 135 lbs., wasn't without its drawbacks. Kane, 34, loves the confidence-boosting comments and a perceived difference in the way people treat her in public — but underneath her new skinny clothes, she's struggling to sort out the excess of saggy skin hanging around her midsection like a bad memory. And Kane, who has become something of a viral sensation on social media for her dramatic 'before and after' photos, has been showing off her stubborn middle — to help other newly-skinny types struggling with the problem feel comfortable discussing the lesser-known side effect of the pricey jabs. Dr. Siamak Agha, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Newport Beach, California, told the Daily Mail that there has been an uptick in the number of patients coming in for excess skin removal after finding success on drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy. Besides the stomach, Agha said, patients are presenting with extra skin around their faces and necks, as well as significant droopage in the posterior area. And while Kane is lucky that her problem can easily be covered up by her new designer duds, underneath, she's still struggling to shrink her stomach down. She said she moisturizes daily and has also leaned on a treatment called Neveskin, which is said to tighten the skin by giving it the hot and cold treatment. But you won't hear Kane speaking negatively of her situation. 'I'll take this all day because my health has got a lot better,' she said. Buying the right clothes certainly helps, the thinfluencer recently told The Post. 'Invest in your health by buying yourself a dress or a pair of jeans that make you feel good,' she said. 'That's part of the weight loss process and feeling good in your new body.' Throughout her rapid transition, Kane admitted, she found herself purchasing clothes 'three sizes too big.' 'But I've always loved fashion, and I'm happier now that I can go into any store and find great options for my body,' she explained, revealing that she'd recently snagged some leather pants — paired with calf-clinging fall boots. 'Shopping can still be a little triggering,' she admitted. 'But now, it's way less anxiety-inducing.'
