Latest news with #tirzepatide
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Could GLP-1 Drugs Potentially Help Treat Cancer? 1 Promising Study Suggests They Might
Key Points Obesity is linked to many diseases, including cancer. A recent study found that tumors in mice shrank after they were administered tirzepatide. It could take years for GLP-1 drugs to obtain regulatory approval as cancer-related treatments. 10 stocks we like better than Eli Lilly › GLP-1 agonist drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro from drugmaker Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) continue to rise in popularity as people are hopeful about the weight loss they can achieve with their help. But a growing number of studies suggest that they could be useful in indications beyond diabetes and weight loss. One particularly intriguing study involves cancer, and it reveals a potential role for GLP-1 agonists in that area of healthcare. If GLP-1 drugs end up obtaining approval as treatments related to oncology, that could unlock a massive new sales growth opportunity for them. That could make a stock like Eli Lilly an even better buy than it is today. Study finds tumors shrank in mice with the help of tirzepatide Previous studies have shown that when people shed weight, they reduce their risks of developing many illnesses, among them, cancer. But a recent study presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting found that GLP-1 agonists could have a more direct impact: They may also reduce the size of breast cancer tumors. The study was modest in scope and not on human patients: Its subjects were 16 mice. Those mice that received injections of tirzepatide (the active ingredient in both Zepbound and Mounjaro) for 16 weeks lost around 20% of their weight, which was comparable to the weight loss that humans achieve while on the drug. And their tumors shrank by around that percentage as well. "Researchers found that tumor volume was significantly correlated with body weight," reported ScienceDaily. But even though these results are promising, they are very preliminary. It would take years of studies on humans before a GLP-1 drug could conceivably obtain a label expansion for use in treating any type of cancer. However, there is hope that GLP-1 drugs can do more than just help with diabetes and weight reduction. Regulators did approve tirzepatide for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea last year. And another study found that it can help reduce the risk of heart failure. As more research is done on GLP-1 drugs, the number of indications they can treat may grow significantly. And if tirzepatide is able to help treat cancer, it could make this already massive drug a sales behemoth for Eli Lilly. Business has been booming for Eli Lilly, and more growth is still ahead Eli Lilly has already been performing incredibly well, thanks in large part to its highly successful GLP-1 drugs. In the first three months of 2025, its sales soared by 45% year over year to $12.7 billion. Zepbound and Mounjaro combined to make up $6.2 billion of that tally. And what's exciting is that these drugs are still in their early growth stages. That's a big reason why Eli Lilly stock trades at a hefty premium of 65 times its trailing earnings. Its 5-year price-to-earnings growth (PEG) multiple of 1.2 indicates, however, that it may not be that expensive relative to its medium-term growth potential. Eli Lilly stock is a no-brainer buy Although the stock may not look cheap, Eli Lilly could be among the best long-term investments you can add to your portfolio today. If tirzepatide racks up more indications and Eli Lilly's already approved drugs reach greater numbers of people, its sales and profits are likely to rise in the years ahead. This year, the stock is up a modest 4% as the hype around it appears to have cooled. But if you're in it for the long haul, it would be hard to go wrong with Eli Lilly. It may just be one of the best growth stocks in the healthcare sector. Should you invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly right now? Before you buy stock in Eli Lilly, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Eli Lilly wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Eli Lilly (LLY) Gets Price Target Boost as Analysts See Strong Mounjaro, Zepbound Sales
Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) ranks among the . On July 11, Guggenheim reiterated its Buy rating on Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report and increased its price target from $936 to $942. Pixabay/Public Domain In contrast to the consensus predictions of $4.39 billion from VisibleAlpha and $4.89 billion from FactSet, the firm projects second-quarter Mounjaro sales of $4.49 billion. Guggenheim also predicts that Zepbound will rake in $3.10 billion in US sales in the second quarter, which is marginally more than the $2.94 billion consensus estimate. Guggenheim's modified model also takes into account a projected $0.14 effect on earnings per share from second-quarter IPR&D, as well as improved tirzepatide expectations based on prescription analysis. The firm also emphasized that investors are paying close attention to net price and prescription trends for tirzepatide, as well as a number of important clinical trial readouts scheduled through the end of 2025. Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) is a major global pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of drugs. Founded in 1876, it has grown to become one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Read More: and Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Zepbound vs. Wegovy: How these drugs compare
Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are brand-name subcutaneous injections. They're both prescribed for weight loss and weight management. Each drug can also be prescribed for other article explains the main similarities and differences between Zepbound and Wegovy. If you're considering taking one of these drugs, discussing this information with your doctor can help you decide whether one of these treatments may be right for For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Zepbound and Wegovy differences between Zepbound and WegovyThese are a few of the main differences between Zepbound and Wegovy:Conditions treated: Zepbound and Wegovy are both used for weight loss and weight management. But each drug also has other uses. (See the 'Uses of Zepbound vs. Wegovy' section for details.)Dosage: Both drugs are used once per week, but Zepbound and Wegovy have different strengths. (See the 'Dosage, forms, and administration' section for more information.)Side effects: Wegovy may cause certain side effects that Zepbound does not. (See the 'Side effects of Zepbound vs. Wegovy' section for details.)Generics: Zepbound and WegovyHere's information about the generic status for Zepbound and Wegovy, as well as details on their active availablenonoActive ingredientstirzepatidesemaglutideDrug classdual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonistGLP-1 receptor agonistUses of Zepbound vs. WegovyZepbound and Wegovy have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following:Both Zepbound and Wegovy are FDA approved to:help with weight loss and weight management in adults who have obesity or overweight and have weight-related health conditions, such as high cholesterolZepbound is also FDA approved to treat:moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesityWegovy is also FDA approved to:reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, in adults with cardiovascular disease who have obesity or overweight»Learn more about Wegovy for weight loss. Zepbound or Wegovy and childrenZepbound is not approved for use in children. Wegovy is approved to help with weight loss and weight management in children ages 12 years and older who have childhood For more information about the drugs' uses, see our articles about Zepbound and forms, and administrationHere's a quick look at the dosage and administration of Zepbound and Wegovy for the conditions they for weight loss and weight managementBelow are the dosages of Zepbound and Wegovy for weight loss and weight management. Strengths are listed in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).Zepbound for weight loss and managementWegovy for weight loss and managementFormssolution in the following forms, each given as a subcutaneous injection:• single-use vial, used with a needle and syringe• single-use injection pensolution inside a single-use injection pen, given as a subcutaneous injectionStrengths• 2.5 mg/0.5 mL• 5 mg/0.5 mL• 7.5 mg/0.5 mL• 10 mg/0.5 mL• 12.5 mg/0.5 mL• 15 mg/0.5 mL• 0.25 mg/0.5 mL• 0.5 mg/0.5 mL• 1 mg/0.5 mL• 1.7 mg/0.75 mL• 2.4 mg/0.75 mLDose2.5 mg for 4 weeks, followed by 5 to 15 mg after that0.25 mg for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 to 2.4 mg after thatFrequencyonce per weekonce per weekGiven byselfselfYour doctor will show you how to inject Zepbound or Wegovy under the skin of your abdomen or thigh. They can also show a caregiver how to inject either drug under the skin of your upper For more information about dosage, see our Zepbound dosage and Wegovy dosage articles.»MORE:Learn about Zepbound's injection effects of Zepbound vs. WegovyZepbound and Wegovy are both used for weight loss and weight management. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as different ones. Some of the side effects reported in clinical trials of these drugs are listed more details about side effects of these two drugs, see our Zepbound side effect and Wegovy side effect articles. You can also refer to the Zepbound prescribing information and Wegovy prescribing side effectsThe following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Zepbound and Wegovy. The table may also include mild side effects that are less side effectsZepboundWegovyfatigue✓✓dizziness✓ ✓headache✓changes in taste✓✓ anxiousness✓common cold✓stomach flu✓hair loss✓✓digestive side effects, such as diarrhea, constipation, and nausea or vomiting✓✓injection site reactions, such as changes in skin color✓✓These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If they last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or side effectsThe following table lists reported serious side effects of Zepbound and side effectsZepboundWegovyrisk of thyroid cancer*✓✓diabetic retinopathy (an eye condition) in people with type 2 diabetes✓hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)✓✓low blood pressure✓✓increased heart rate✓✓acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas)✓✓acute gallbladder disease, such as gallstones or cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)✓✓severe digestive side effects, which may lead to dehydration and kidney problems✓✓If you have serious side effects while using Zepbound or Wegovy, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening or you believe you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.* Zepbound and Wegovy have a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the 'Precautions for Zepbound and Wegovy' REACTIONFor some people, Zepbound and Wegovy can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or to manageFor mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They'll also let you know whether you should keep taking the severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you've had a serious allergic reaction to Zepbound or Wegovy, your doctor may recommend a different medication questions about Zepbound vs WegovyHere are answers to some common questions about Zepbound and is the dosage when switching from Wegovy to Zepbound?If your doctor recommends switching from Wegovy to Zepbound, they'll recommend the right dosage for drugs are used once per week for weight loss and weight management. However, Zepbound and Wegovy come in different strengths. Your doctor can help determine which strength of Zepbound is most comparable to the Wegovy dose you've been you have other questions about the dosage of Zepbound or Wegovy, talk with your do Zepbound and Wegovy compare with Ozempic?Zepbound and Wegovy are both approved to help with weight loss and weight management in certain adults. Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, but some doctors may prescribe it off-label for this purpose. (With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a use not approved by the FDA.)Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide as the active ingredient, but they're approved for different uses and come in different contains a different active ingredient called tirzepatide, which works in a slightly different way to support weight learn more about whether Zepbound, Wegovy, or Ozempic may be right for you, talk with your doctor. »MORE:Learn how Ozempic compares with Wegovy. Effectiveness of Zepbound vs. Wegovy Keep reading to learn more about the effectiveness of Zepbound and study: A recent study found that Zepbound may be more effective than Wegovy for weight loss and weight management. But keep in mind that study results may not apply to your individual health information: For details about how these drugs performed in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Zepbound and Wegovy. Treatment guidelines: Another way to determine whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means research has shown the drug to be safe and effective. Zepbound and Wegovy are recommended as a treatment option for people with obesity in guidelines from the American Gastroenterological of Zepbound vs. Wegovy How much Zepbound or Wegovy costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. Both Zepbound and Wegovy are brand-name drugs. Brand-name medications often cost more than generics. However, there are currently no generic versions available for Zepbound or Wegovy.»MORE:Search for your medication on Optum Perks to see available coupons and download a free Optum Perks discount Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn for Zepbound and Wegovy Zepbound and Wegovy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These drugs have some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned warning: Risk of thyroid cancerZepbound and Wegovy have a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be studies of tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Zepbound) and semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) have shown an increased risk of thyroid cancer. However, animal studies don't always predict what will happen in humans. It isn't known for certain whether Zepbound or Wegovy increases thyroid cancer risk in reduce this risk, doctors typically will not prescribe Zepbound or Wegovy for people with certain risk factors for thyroid cancer. These include having either:a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)a rare genetic (inherited) condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)If you have symptoms of thyroid cancer during treatment with Zepbound or Wegovy, tell your doctor right away. Symptoms may include a hoarse voice, a lump in your neck, or difficulty swallowing. Your doctor may order tests to check for thyroid learn more about this warning, talk with your precautionsIn addition to boxed warnings, Zepbound and Wegovy have other warnings. If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Zepbound or you've had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients✓✓ if you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant✓✓if you're breastfeeding or thinking about breastfeeding✓✓if you have a mental health condition or have ever had suicidal thoughts or behaviors✓✓if you have a pancreas problem✓✓if you have type 2 diabetes✓✓if you have severe gastroparesis✓✓if you have diabetic retinopathy ✓✓if you have a kidney problem✓✓if you have a planned procedure or surgery✓✓Note: For more comprehensive information about what conditions interact with these drugs, you can refer to our Zepbound and Wegovy interactions is out thereIf you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/ HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/ in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do you're calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so you're not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help between Zepbound and Wegovy Switching between Zepbound and Wegovy might be you'd like to know more about switching between Zepbound and Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your personal situation. Even if two drugs treat the same condition or are in the same drug class, your body can still respond important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor's Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 3 Things That Matter for Eli Lilly Now
Key Points Eli Lilly's biggest growth driver, tirzepatide, will continue facing scrutiny from investors and analysts. The company's oral GLP-1 candidate will soon report key phase 3 results in weight management. The drugmaker's shares look expensive, but the premium is justified given Lilly's prospects. 10 stocks we like better than Eli Lilly › Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has been one of the best-performing pharmaceutical leaders in the past five years. Thanks to strong clinical and regulatory progress, as well as robust financial results, the drugmaker has routinely impressed Wall Street. Lilly has experienced a slowdown this year, and its shares have underperformed broader equities. Still, the company could turn things around and return to its market-beating ways, especially if it can execute effectively on several fronts. Let's discuss three critical areas of its business to pay close attention to right now. 1. Tirzepatide's progress It has now been more than three years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved tirzepatide, the medicine Eli Lilly markets as Mounjaro for treating diabetes and as Zepbound for weight management. The two brands have been generating mouthwatering sales. Each racked up billions of dollars in revenue last quarter. Mounjaro and Zepbound will continue to be crucial to Eli Lilly's progress. Here are two key things to watch. First, how quickly are their sales continuing to grow? Analysts will be closely monitoring these numbers for the foreseeable future. Image source: Getty Images. Second, will they earn label expansions? Tirzepatide has already aced other phase 3 studies, such as in cutting the risk of diabetes in patients who were overweight (or obese) and prediabetic. Regulatory authorities are now reviewing it in helping prevent heart failure in obese patients. Tirzepatide is being investigated in late-stage trials as a potential treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in combination with other medicines. It's also being tested in mid-stage studies in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). So the therapy could earn many more label expansions, which will help boost its already fast-growing sales. It's a good idea to monitor Lilly's developments related to this drug. 2. Orforglipron's weight management results In April, Eli Lilly posted strong phase 3 results for its next-gen GLP-1 medicine, orforglipron, in diabetes patients. Orforglipron is a particularly important pipeline candidate to follow, because it could be one of the first oral GLP-1 therapies to hit the market. Some patients don't like needles and would vastly prefer a daily oral option over the current subcutaneously administered options. And while Lilly's recent phase 3 win for orforglipron in diabetes was significant, investors will be especially interested in the medicine's performance in weight management.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I lost almost 3st in a year with fat jabs. It's not cheating
I feel reborn. I've been trying to think of a less dramatic way of saying it, but it's my birthday this week and I have acquired a delightful new lease of life in my 60s, so reborn is the right word. It's almost a year since I wrote in these pages that I was starting Mounjaro (tirzepatide), one of the new weight loss drugs that is revolutionising medical science essentially by sending a signal to your brain to tell it you are full. How has that gone? Well, on a purely practical level, I am no longer carrying an excess 38lb around with me – not far off what Royal Engineers must bear on their backs to complete an eight-mile ruck march in two hours. I was carrying my load 24 hours a day, on a small frame and without a soldier's brawn (we'll come to muscle in a minute). I can only offer my sincere apologies to my hips and knees – since drastically taking the pressure off them, all the pain I was experiencing has vanished. For those who have never struggled with their weight, as millions of us do, Mounjaro and Ozempic (semaglutide, a diabetes drug which can be used off-label for weight loss) are 'cheating'. Just jab fatty's little helper into your thigh once a week and, according to certain critics, it will magic away the pounds without the penitence and self-denial that sections of society appear to feel the fat owe to the thin. While 'fat-shaming' is now frowned upon (although people judge the obese all the time, of course they do), the media can be snarky about those who take medicine to help them slim down. They're not the only ones. 'You really don't want to lose any more,' your thinnest friend will advise you. It's always the slimmest friends who have the greatest difficulty watching you become a healthy size – as if they count on you to be the fat one, and feel betrayed when you start attracting some of the admiring attention that should belong to them, obviously. That's why many people who are 'on the pens', particularly women, I suspect, keep it a secret, even from their partners. They are scared of being seen as weak-willed and feeble. It is somehow shameful to take a weight-loss drug in a way it is not shameful to take statins, metformin or other drugs that become necessary when you are – yes – overweight. Try to make sense of that double standard if you can. Well, it's nobody's business, and anyway I'm far too happy with my new self to care what anyone thinks, but my transformation has taken persistence and hard work. Accelerated weight loss equals rapid muscle wastage, and I can't afford to lose any muscle at my age. Taking advantage of your new, suppressed appetite and shrunken stomach, it would be perfectly possible to exist on a pain au chocolat and a packet of crisps a day (some do), but you would rapidly become ill and malnourished. Your hair would fall out (one of the commonly cited side-effects of Mounjaro). I hired an exceptional personal trainer, James Wilkinson, from my local gym in Saffron Walden, and we set out on a mission to replace any muscle that was wasting away. Lifting weights at least twice a week, I was under orders to eat as much protein as I could. Cottage cheese was my new best friend. A sentence I never hoped to write. 'You were as weak as a kitten when we started,' James often reminded me when I was squashed and protesting loudly in a medieval leg-press contraption known (not fondly) as the 'bacon-slicer'. I've had more dignified smear tests. A couple of months ago, I texted James in a panic saying that my legs were suddenly looking 'really weird' and a bit like stringy hams. What could be wrong? 'Er, that's called muscle, Allison,' said the trainer. (He has kept his other clients entertained with reports of my cluelessness ever since.) Reader, I am an anatomical drawing! Legs are looking really good, arms are a work in progress, but something called 'definition' has been sighted. I am not yet ripped, more lightly frayed, but give me time. Looking back at the first entry in my Mounjaro diary last August, I weighed just over 12st, way too much for a 5ft 4in female with narrow hips lurking somewhere beneath the pillowy plumpness. My BMI was 28.8 (overweight) and, unsurprisingly, I was pre-diabetic. There was also a family history of heart attacks. 'You are at a crossroads,' my doctor, Rob Howlett, a private GP in Cambridge, told me flatly. 'If you carry on along this path, ahead lies diabetes, stroke, heart disease and dementia.' Gee, the four horses of the health apocalypse. All of that could be reversed, though, Dr Rob promised. Mounjaro, he said, was 'the closest thing to a miracle drug' he had encountered in his forty-year career. 'It's not just about weight,' he told me, 'the drugs reduce visceral fat, improve blood sugar control and lower the risk of heart disease.' Basically, the midlife 'midriff bulge' that the much-missed Terry Wogan used to tease Radio Two listeners about doesn't just make it an ordeal to do up a zip; it increases your risk profile for all the major Nasties. Still, I hesitated. For months. Truth be told, I am secretly one of those judgmental, get-a-grip-woman, just-eat-less puritans I can't stand. I had lost weight before by myself, so I could do it, couldn't I? 'Yes, but you keep putting it back on again,' said the doctor, jabbing at my notes which charted the dizzy highs and self-loathing lows of my constant battle to shed the pounds since having two implausibly large babies in the late Nineties. (Hoovering up leftover chicken nuggets from kids' teas solidified that 'baby weight' into a permanent malaise.) 'The drugs offer powerful, reliable results where diets and willpower often fail,' Rob said. 'That doesn't mean they should replace a healthy lifestyle, but they can give people the head start they need to reclaim their health.' Feeling pretty low by that point, both physically and mentally, I gave in and signed up with Dr Claire Gillvray, who runs a wellbeing and weight loss clinic in Cambridge. Claire both supplies Mounjaro and offers support to patients, including advice on diet and exercise classes. It was certainly worth the extra expense in the first few months when I bombarded her with queries. I began on the 2.5mg starting dose and felt it take effect within hours, although many people don't experience that until a larger injection. The 'food noise' in my brain that would see me rustling in the kitchen cupboards for something sweet an hour after I'd eaten dinner was stilled. I was elated when I lost 5lb in the first fortnight, but thereafter progress was slow and steady. Sometimes a pound a week, sometimes nothing at all. In the entry for Friday, Sept 13, when I was stuck at 11.7st, I drew a sad face with a downturned mouth. On Sunday, Sept 29, I was 11.1st – 'Lost 1 1/4lb this week, too slow,' I scribbled furiously. 'Not enough exercise?!!' Frequently, I would vent my frustration in texts to Dr Claire, who would calmly reply that 'things are changing internally and remember you are doing this for your long-term health.' Yes, yes, marvellous to think my poor old liver is less fatty, but I want to LOSE WEIGHT, dammit! It occurred to me that, counterintuitively, I was eating too little, so I increased my daily calories a bit. It helped. At the seven-week point, on Oct 4, a moment of triumph: 'Into the ten's!' I had dropped below 11st. People are understandably impatient to see the weight drop off. The mistake many make is increasing the dose too quickly, which can lead to those unpleasant side effects the media never stops printing scare stories about. (Boris Johnson reported that he was shedding 4 or 5lb a week on Ozempic when he started to dread the injections because they were making him feel ill. 'One minute I would be fine, and the next minute I would be talking to Ralph on the big white phone; and I am afraid that I decided that I couldn't go on.' I recommend Boris gives it another go with more user-friendly Mounjaro.) I have only ever gone up to 5mg, the second-lowest dose, and the only problems I've had are with constipation (magnesium tablets at night and a bit more fibre fixed that) and the ghastly 'sulphur burps' which make your mouth fill up with the noxious fumes from a stinky volcano. (I had an attack of the Etna reflux at a smart London dinner and spent the evening trying not to breathe out lest I horrify my famous neighbours on either side.) Mounjaro for me has always been a slender handrail to hold onto as I try to reset my dysfunctional relationship with food. 'Eat what you need first and then eat what you want,' trainer James advised. It really helped to think very consciously about feeding my body the good stuff it needed to thrive and build that all-important muscle. One evening, on my way home from a drinks party and starting to feel hungry without having had dinner, I stood scanning the shelves of tempting snacks in the train station shop. The old me would have picked up a bar of Dairy Milk, maybe a sandwich and some crisps – exactly the carbs I was now trying to avoid. 'There's nothing for you here,' I thought, and walked away. I really wanted a snack, but the progress I had made was more precious to me. Not only was Mounjaro helping to reduce my appetite, but I didn't want to taint my success so far by eating junk food. That was a turning point. Another milestone came in early December when Rob sent me an email. Subject: 'Blood test results and Gold Blue Peter badge.' My weight, he said, had dropped from 11st 13lb to 9st 13lb – a reduction of 16.4 per cent. I was no longer diabetic. Bad cholesterol had fallen by 30 per cent. Something called triglycerides (fat in the blood) dropped by 40 per cent. 'Amazing!' my doctor exclaimed. 'Not just the drug, Allison, you have made a big difference as well. But the combination of the two is stunning.' What a feeling of accomplishment – I was overjoyed. I had restored my body to her rightful self. To borrow a mantra on the gym wall, which I would once have found tooth-rottingly absurd, I was the me I wanted to be. Not just that, there was a new mental clarity. Having cut back on refined carbohydrates and focused on protein and fibre, I was now free from the blood sugar surges and crashes that had dictated my mood for so much of my life. It was like I'd been chained to a lunatic (greed/comfort eating) for years and suddenly released. It took time to adjust. My rings were loose on my fingers, and I suffered from a strange kind of body dysmorphia, unable to navigate my new size. In a favourite boutique, I found a top I liked but there was only an extra-small or a large on the rail. I asked for a medium and Hayley, the owner, laughed. 'You'll get into that extra-small,' she said. Who, me? She was right – it fitted. My daughter sold many of my bigger clothes on Vinted; others I've donated to charity shops, while some old favourites went to another Mounjaro user who's lost a heroic 4 1/2st and is now down to my original size 14 (another 2st to go before she reaches her goal). I have bought myself a new wardrobe of colourful or striking clothes I would never have dared wear. My new blue-and-white Margaret Thatcher pussy-bow tribute dress would have looked frumpy on me before, instead of elegant, I know. This new person no longer wears cardigans over summer dresses in the heat. 'You've been used to trying to hide your body, now you're not hiding,' Hayley said, and I realised that was true. Buying new clothes isn't cheap, of course, but think what I've saved on that hip replacement a consultant warned I'd probably need before I started Mounjaro – and the excruciating pain that has since vanished. I've also been able to revive outfits that I'd imagined I'd never wear again. What a surprise and a pleasure it is to put on a skirt you last wore pre-motherhood and find that it fits! Someone flatteringly asked if I'd had a facelift – no, but another major saving! I do have friends on Gaunt Watch – they've sworn to warn me if my cheeks look like they're caving in, which can be a consequence of excessive weight loss. If I had a magic wand right now, I would wave it and give this feeling – this lovely freedom from self-consciousness, this sense of being confident and entirely happy in your own skin – to every single person who has struggled time and again to lose weight and fallen back, dejected, into the sticky embrace of the Cookie Monster. Please don't think of it as cheating; think of it as a leveller that gives everyone the willpower to shed burdensome pounds and embed routines that make for sustainable change. A month ago, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'The NHS should be providing this medication to as many people as is needed. Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions.' He's absolutely right. Although Mounjaro has finally been approved for use on the NHS in England, it is only under incredibly strict criteria – including that patients must have a BMI of 40 or over, plus four other weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This spectacularly misses the point: weight loss like mine (and early intervention) is meant to prevent those serious conditions from developing in the first place. We could curb the obesity epidemic and start getting millions who are mired in misery and hopelessness off the sofa – and off disability benefits too. Dr Claire Gillvray is passionate about the medication as a health game-changer and wants everyone who needs Mounjaro to be able to access it. 'I worry about the health inequality and the delay in access within the NHS,' she says. 'I want to use it with my patients to get them ready for hip surgery and those with mental health problems to prevent them developing metabolic syndrome and dying 20 years younger than they should, but that unfortunately feels like years away.' Claire Gillvray, Rob Howlett and James 'See, I told you you could lift it' Wilkinson have been my guides on this incredible journey. 'You've changed your life around, Allison,' Claire says, 'gained healthy life years, but it has not just been about the injection. You have worked really hard. I'm proud of you.' If I can do it, so can you. I had no interest in exercise, and my main food group was paprika Pringles. Today, I'm lifting two-and-a-half times the weight I could a year ago and, every morning, I sprinkle on my Greek yogurt a protein-rich sawdust that rightly belongs on the floor of a gerbil cage. It's worth it because zips do up without protest, my triglycerides are world class and I'm not going to get dementia. At speaking engagements around the country, I've met Telegraph subscribers who read my original Mounjaro article last September and decided to try it too. (Wives tended to lead the way, with dubious husbands grumbling, but soon converted, and now approaching smug.) They come up beaming, often hug me, gesture down at their sylphlike forms and whisper, 'Best thing ever.' I couldn't agree more. Mounjaro, in the immortal words of The Stylistics: You make me feel brand new. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
