Gogglebox personality Amy Tapper has publicly defended her decision to use weight loss injections after achieving an incredible seven-stone weight loss, confronting a backlash from online trolls.
Facing the Backlash
The 25-year-old TV star revealed she turned to medication in June 2023 after reaching a point where she felt there was 'nothing else she could do'. However, her honesty was met with accusations of lying and 'cheating fans'.
Amy hit back firmly, stating to The Mirror: 'I know what I’m doing works and is right for me and that’s all that matters.' She directly addressed critics who advocate for simple lifestyle changes, explaining, 'All these people who say "eat less, move more". It’s what I’ve been doing for 20 years, but that alone didn’t work for me.'
She added a powerful message about public perception, noting that 'People have problems when you aren’t losing weight and problems when you do, however you are doing it shouldn’t matter.'
A Medical Intervention
Amy disclosed that she was close to undergoing bariatric surgery before her doctor recommended weight-loss medication as an alternative. She began a course of Mounjaro, and the results were rapid and significant.
She lost 5lbs in her very first week on the medication. After six months, her total weight loss had reached an impressive four stone. To date, she has shed almost eight stone in total.
Her physical transformation has been dramatic, dropping from a size 26 to a size 18. This has unlocked everyday experiences that were previously difficult, such as buying clothes in regular high-street shops and not worrying about 'squishing' the person next to her in a theatre seat.
A New Lease on Life
The positive impact on her daily life has been profound. A recent holiday marked a series of firsts: it was the first time she didn't require a seat belt extension on a plane and the first time she didn't need to pre-book an aisle seat.
Last month, Amy proudly showcased her 7st weight loss in a series of holiday photos, radiating confidence in a stylish blue denim dress. She has continued to share her journey online, captioning one post 'Another day another slay'.
Speaking to The Sun, Amy expressed her frustration with those who label her choice as the 'lazy way out'. 'I don't want people to think that I've sat around for the last 17 years of my life not trying to lose weight,' she said. 'I want people to know that this has been my only option to get this far.'
Amy, who was just 13 when she joined her family on Gogglebox, has worked her way up from a 2.5mg dose to a 15mg weekly dose of Mounjaro as of February, a treatment she credits with changing her life.
