Weight-loss drug Monjaro ‘changed my life,’ says the mother of two.

Weight loss medicine Mounjaro is about to launch on NHS. In England from March

It is one of many weight loss drugs that have become increasingly popular in recent years, and are sold privately through clinics and pharmacies.

BBC News spoke to people who are already paying to access Mounjaro, or hoping to access it through the NHS, about their thoughts on the announcement.

Marine biologist Alex Harvey, 35, from Plymouth, welcomed the move to increase access to the weight-loss drug.

She started taking Monjaro after struggling with weight gain following the birth of her two children in May.

“I’m at the point where I’m going to be obese in my late 30s if this continues.”

In the past six months, her body mass index (BMI) has dropped from 32 to 22, while she has lost 25 percent of her body weight.

According to the NHS, those with a BMI of 25 and above are in the overweight range, while those with a BMI of 30 and above are classified as obese.

“It’s changed my life… it’s completely changed my attitude towards food,” he said, adding that it also encouraged him to go to the gym and take up weightlifting. was

Because Monjaro works as an appetite suppressant, she said she initially struggled to eat more than 1,000 calories but the effects “waned” and her appetite returned.

Ms Harvey spends £170 a month on the drug, but said she has saved the same amount by buying less food and drinks and plans to stop using it.

She would not be eligible for the drug under NICE guidelines, which say Mounjaro must be offered to people with a BMI over 35 and at least one obesity-related health problem.

But he believes the rollout should be gradual to ensure there’s help alongside the drug, which puts users at risk of losing weight when they stop taking it.

“It’s not a quick fix,” he said. “Having that maintenance plan to help people keep that weight off later is really important.”

Cardiac physiologist Jane Graham, from York, said she hopes to access a weight loss job through the NHS to lose two stone (12.7kg).

The 60-year-old had a heart attack nine years ago, and as well as being at risk for further heart attacks, he is pre-diabetic.

“My arms and legs aren’t fat, just my midsection – that’s where the risks are [for heart-related health issues] Lie.” He said. “My waist is 42 inches. [106cm] But I weigh 12 stone. [76.2kg] And I can’t take it off.”

Ms Graham said she had tried “everything” to lose weight, including the calorie-restricted 5:2 diet and reading nutrition books “until I was blue in the face”. .

“I’m done fighting because I’ve tried for so long,” she said, but added that she was “worried” that her health problems would worsen.

While she would like to try Monjaro, she would like to be monitored by doctors as part of the NHS program because of her pre-existing health problems.

“I’d be more than happy to pay for it but be monitored, but you can’t do that. It’s either one or the other,” he said.

She was bitterly disappointed that with a BMI of 30, she would not qualify for the drug under NICE guidelines.

And, even if she falls within the catchment’s criteria, Ms Graham was concerned about the potential wait for access to Monjaro.

“When I’ve waited 12 years… I’ll be 72 and everything that’s going to happen to me has already happened. It will be too late.”

NICE has given the NHS more than a decade to introduce the drug because of concerns it could overwhelm services.

Professor Jonathan Banger, NICE’s chief medical officer, admitted it would mean “a lot of people will have to wait”.

But he added: “We have had to take this difficult decision to protect vital NHS services and to examine ways of delivering weight loss medicine to this new generation.”

Paul – who did not want to give his last name – and his wife have been taking Monjaro for the past few months, which they bought from a private online clinic.

“My wife and I don’t drink alcohol, we don’t smoke, but we like food and both of us were overweight,” he said.

His wife has lost 5 stone (31.7kg) since starting in July, while Paul said he has also lost weight since starting in October.

Paul, who said his heaviest weight was 20 stone (127kg), said he had “tried everything” to lose weight.

“But I realized the weight wouldn’t come off. It was frustrating,” he said.

He spoke to his GP, he said, but decided to try Monjaro after hearing about the success stories.

Paul said the drug helped him get rid of the “food noise” that made him hungry all the time.

His wife pays £180 a month for a private prescription and he is taking some of her medication – now that he needs it less after losing weight – because he can afford to buy her own. Can’t be.

Paul has not sought advice on sharing prescription drugs, which is potentially dangerous and not recommended.

Paul said it would be great if the NHS could provide it – but that a 12-year wait was “too long” for some.

He admits that taking something not specifically prescribed for him is dangerous and has had some mild side effects.

“It’s a bit of a punt. I’ll go to my GP at some point for a general check-up and tell them I’m on it,” he added.