A mother who lost eight stone after using the diabetes drug Mounjaro has said it is not the NHS's responsibility to provide the jabs for weight loss. Sarah White, from York, weighed 22 stone in September 2024 when she ordered her first dose. She has since dropped to 14 stone and a size 16, but credits lifestyle changes rather than the drug alone.
Ms White said the jabs suppressed her appetite, which helped her implement healthier habits. 'All along I was implementing changes that I could stick to without the jabs,' she said. 'People think the jabs just burn fat but it's aided me to make the lifestyle changes.' Her weight spiralled after the birth of her twins in 2020, when convenience foods became a regular part of her diet.
She was initially cynical when a friend recommended Mounjaro, but decided to try it. 'I do agree that it's a medication for people, like those with diabetes, and they should get it on the NHS. But I am using Mounjaro to make the lifestyle changes so that when I come off the drug, I can stay healthy long-term,' she said.
Ms White argued that individuals should take responsibility for their weight. 'I made myself fat so I should have the responsibility to sort it. Why should my obesity be a burden on an already crippled NHS?' She noted the drug costs £90 to £150 per month, but said she finds the money by cutting back on takeaways and other spending.
She compared the cost to other weight loss expenses: 'People could easily spend £50 or £60 a month on Slimming World and then another £50 on a gym membership – nobody expects the NHS to pay for that.' She added that if there were a subsidised scheme, that might work, but obesity management should not get more funding on an already stretched NHS.
