The mother of a severely autistic, non-verbal 12-year-old boy has revealed how weight loss injections have dramatically improved his life, curbing his insatiable appetite and helping him shed over a stone.
Desperate Search for Help
Amanda, a single mother from South Yorkshire, had been 'crying and begging' doctors for assistance as her son Ben's weight spiralled out of control. At 19st 7lb (123.9kg) on March 9, Ben weighed more than three times the average for a boy his age. Amanda lived in constant fear that she might lose her child due to his obesity.
After starting a specialised NHS weight loss injection programme, Ben has dropped to 18st 1lb (115.1kg). For Amanda, the treatment has been a miracle, offering a lifeline for her son who suffers from hyperphagia—a condition where the brain fails to register fullness, leaving him in a state of constant starvation.
Behavioural Challenges
Ben's hyperphagia led to severe behavioural issues. He would steal food from his mother's plate, rip the kitchen door off its hinges in search of food, and take food from strangers' tables in restaurants. His size also prevented him from enjoying theme park rollercoasters, causing deep distress.
Ben also has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which made meal planning difficult. He was discharged from a dietitian service at age five. During lockdown, his appetite became unmanageable, with him eating from morning until night.
Judgment and Lack of Support
Amanda faced cruel judgment from medical professionals. One paediatrician told her, 'You do realise you are killing your child?' This upset her greatly, as she was doing everything possible to help her son.
The breakthrough came when the family was referred to the Complications of Excess Weight (CEW) clinic at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Dita Aswani listened without judgment and suggested weight-loss injections. Amanda saw it as a 'no-brainer' choice, given the alternative of watching her child die from a weight-related illness.
Life-Changing Results
Ben started on a low dosage, losing around 1kg per week. The results were instantaneous: his constant food-seeking stopped, his mood improved, and outings no longer revolved around eating. The holistic support includes access to a sleep nurse, dietitian, dentist, and financial advice. The family is also undergoing genetic testing to identify the root cause of Ben's obesity.
Amanda and Ben are not alone. Model Katie Price recently revealed her son Harvey, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, would also start supervised weight loss jabs.
Child Obesity Crisis
NHS data shows 6,500 children as young as four have required urgent treatment at specialist weight management clinics since 2021. Among them, 423 four-year-olds weighed an average of 5st 3lb (33kg)—typical for a 10-year-old. 406 children under 18 have been prescribed weight-loss jabs, the youngest being 11. Severe health complications are rising: 17% have high blood pressure, 6% have Type 2 diabetes, and 17.5% have abnormal blood fat levels, an early sign of heart disease.
Amanda's Message to Critics
Amanda strongly defends weight loss injections as a vital tool. To critics who say 12-year-olds are too young, she says, 'Just mind your business!' She adds, 'Children’s weight should never be a topic of conversation in a negative light. People should not judge someone without experiencing their life. These injections are not the easy way out—there is education and lifestyle change involved.'
