Doctor's Personal Mounjaro Journey Uncovers Psychological Impacts and Treatment Realities
A British medical professional who personally underwent treatment with the weight-loss medication Mounjaro has shared detailed insights from his experience, highlighting unexpected psychological changes and the challenges of maintaining results after discontinuing the drug.
Significant Physical Transformation Accompanied by Mental Shifts
Dr Sachin Khunti, a 33-year-old physician, decided to try tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro) after determining he met clinical criteria for obesity. Before beginning treatment, Dr Khunti weighed just under 15 stone 4 pounds with a 38.5-inch waist measurement. Following three months on the medication, he achieved a substantial physical transformation, dropping to 13 stone 1 pound and reducing his waist size to 35 inches—representing a loss of nearly two stone.
However, the most remarkable changes Dr Khunti reported were psychological rather than physical. He described how the medication dramatically quietened what he termed "food noise"—the constant background thoughts about food that many people with obesity experience. "What surprised me most while taking it was how quiet food noise became," Dr Khunti explained. "The constant background thoughts about food were noticeably reduced."
Behavioural Changes and Social Observations
The physician noted that friends and family observed significant changes in both his appetite and general mood during treatment. He experienced substantially reduced interest in snacking and alcohol consumption while on Mounjaro. Compared to previous weight loss attempts through calorie restriction alone, Dr Khunti reported feeling more emotionally stable and less irritable while medicated—a change his wife particularly noticed.
"Compared to previous weight loss attempts through calorie restriction alone, I felt more stable and less irritable while on medication, which my wife definitely noticed," he stated.
The Rebound Effect After Treatment Cessation
When Dr Khunti discontinued the medication after three months, the suppressed cravings returned with surprising speed. Within just two months of stopping treatment, his weight increased to 85.5 kilograms and his waist measurement expanded to 36.3 inches.
"What surprised me most after stopping was how quickly appetite signals and cravings returned, particularly during social events or periods of stress," Dr Khunti revealed. "It reinforced for me that obesity biology does not simply disappear, and that long-term strategy is essential."
This experience led him to restart treatment under medical supervision, currently maintaining approximately 83 kilograms on a 5mg dose.
Medical Perspective and Patient Empathy
Dr Khunti emphasized that his decision to begin Mounjaro was based on medical risk assessment rather than aesthetic considerations. As a South Asian male with elevated LDL cholesterol and a strong family history of cardiometabolic disease, he recognized the importance of early intervention for obesity-related health risks.
The physician reported experiencing mild side effects including nausea, constipation, and reflux during the initial weeks of treatment. More significantly, he believes his personal experience has deepened his professional empathy for patients navigating obesity treatment.
"It has strengthened my understanding of the lived experience, particularly the impact on appetite regulation and food noise," Dr Khunti explained. "Experiencing both the biological and psychological components firsthand has reinforced the importance of setting realistic expectations and planning for long-term maintenance, rather than viewing medication as a short-term fix."
Comprehensive Treatment Approach and Cautions
The doctor stresses that medication should form just one component of a comprehensive obesity management strategy. He advocates for a holistic approach that includes adequate protein intake, resistance training to preserve muscle mass, sleep optimization, and structured physical activity alongside pharmaceutical intervention.
Dr Khunti offers important cautions regarding GLP-1-based therapies like Mounjaro:
- These medications are not suitable for everyone and require proper medical assessment and monitoring
- They should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- They are contraindicated for individuals with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)
- They may not be appropriate for those with certain significant gastrointestinal or endocrine conditions
"Obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition, so for many people treatment may need to be long-term, similar to other chronic diseases," Dr Khunti concluded. "However, medication should always sit within a structured plan including nutrition, resistance training, sleep optimization and behavioural support."
