A WOMAN has revealed that she lost six stone in seven months while using Mounjaro, but noticed some very strange side effects that people don’t talk about.
Mia Melville, a young woman from the UK, once topped the scales at 18 stone 3 lbs, but was able to slim down thanks to weight loss injections.
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Not only did Mia experience a long list of side effects, including egg-tasting sulfur burps, but experts and NHS medics have now shared a stern warning about the dangers of taking such medications without a prescription.
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.”
But despite this, the NHS warned: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.
“These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”
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.
Mia took to social media to share a close-up look at her impressive weight loss transformation, which was thanks to the jabs, leaving many open-mouthed.
At the start of Mia’s short clip, we saw her on holiday as she sat on a sun lounger in a white swimsuit.
Covering her face, Mia wrote: “Some days I feel I haven’t lost any weight.”
But seconds later, Mia shared a short clip of her new frame, where she posed in a tight black top showing off her slimmed down physique.
The gorgeous woman confirmed that she lost six stone thanks to the fat jabs and has two stone left to lose to reach her goal weight.
Alongside using Mounjaro, which is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs, Mia tried her best to eat healthily and focused on a high protein diet.
Having said that, the foodie stressed that she “didn’t restrict” herself and still ate takeaways and chocolate.
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.
Mia’s grim side effects and handy tips
In a follow-up clip, Mia shared her tips for those also taking Mounjaro – plus the grim side effects she battled.
She stressed that taking daily vitamins is vital, as your body may not be getting the essential nutrients it needs due to appetite suppression.
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Mia also explained the importance of staying hydrated and advised that drinking two to three litres of water a day is crucial for managing side effects.
The content creator shared that she injected with her weekly dose in the evenings as she found this helped with potential side effects.
While many associate headaches, nausea and constipation with Mounjaro, Mia revealed some of the gross side effects she experienced that people don’t talk about – which include sulfur burps, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Four weeks into using the fat jabs, Mia dealt with nausea, headaches, constipation and sulfur burps – also known as rotten egg burps – which are burps that have a foul, unpleasant smell similar to that of rotten eggs.
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.
Mia advised those dealing with sulfur burps to take peppermint oil capsules, which you can purchase from Holland & Barrett.
12 weeks in, she was not only dealing with nausea, but also experienced vomiting and diarrhoea too.
Mia also recommended those using Mounjaro to not move up a dose every four weeks unless it is necessary.
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @miamelville, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 68,200 views.
It also amassed 2,111 likes and 171 comments, as many eagerly rushed to praise her jaw-dropping glow up.
Oh my goodness Mia! Look at that waistline
TikTok user
One person said: “You look amazing.”
Another added: “Absolutely incredible. Well done you!”
A third commented: “Wow amazing results. You’re looking fabulous!”
Not only this, but at the same time, someone else penned: “Oh my goodness Mia! Look at that waistline.”
‘Potential to kill’
Although many were impressed with Mia’s weight loss, users should note that Mounjaro can have fatal consequences.
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.
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.”
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