Vicki Horn, 41, from Newcastle, lost more than 100lbs (45kg) in under a year after overcoming a severe needle phobia to use the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. She says the emotional transformation has been even greater than the physical one.
Holiday photo sparked decision to seek help
After years of failed diets and avoiding needles, a holiday picture in Poland became the catalyst for change. “I thought I looked cute in the picture, and when I saw it afterwards, I was absolutely mortified,” she said. “That was the moment I knew I needed help.”
Vicki had gained weight during the Covid pandemic and became increasingly self-conscious, avoiding photos and activities like going to the gym. In April 2025, she decided weight-loss jabs were her best option but first needed therapy to overcome her fear of needles. “I had to have therapy because I was so scared of needles, and I had been so worried before my first GLP-1 treatment that I cried and had to have my husband help me,” she said.
Emotional impact and confidence boost
Less than a year after starting Mounjaro with digital pharmacy Voy, Vicki reduced her overall body weight by over 45%. “My confidence has gone through the roof,” she said. “I look back at old videos of myself, and I can see how nervous and uncomfortable I was. Now I feel like a completely different person.”
Unlike many users who keep their treatment private, Vicki chose to be open about her journey. She quickly realized the shame and stigma surrounding obesity and weight-loss medication. “There are many people who describe themselves as ‘secret jabbers’,” she said. “Because of the stigma that still surrounds weight-loss injections, some feel uncomfortable sharing their journey publicly or even discussing it with friends and family, fearing judgement or misunderstanding.”
Stigma and double standards
Vicki believes people living with obesity face a no-win situation. “When you're overweight, people judge you for your size. Then when you lose weight with medication, people say you've cheated. You can't win,” she said. She experienced this firsthand when a friend complimented her weight loss but then reacted negatively after learning about Mounjaro. “They immediately pulled a face, saying it was cheating,” Vicki said. “It's amazing how quickly people's attitudes can change.”
She added that the shame of being overweight felt far greater than any stigma attached to the medication: “I felt more stigma around being big than I ever have about taking Mounjaro.”
Side effects and future options
Weight-loss jabs can have gastrointestinal side effects, especially when starting or increasing the dose, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and severe constipation. Vicki is now interested in trying the new oral weight-loss medication now available on prescription in the UK. Having lived with a needle phobia, she believes pills could encourage more people to seek treatment. “There will be lots of people who find a pill much less intimidating,” she said. “People seem to focus on the fact you're ‘on the jabs’. A pill feels more traditional, and that might make it easier for some people to accept.”
Call for compassion
Vicki hopes conversations around obesity treatment become less judgmental. “At the end of the day, people are just trying to improve their health,” she said. “There shouldn't be any shame in that.”
Dr Earim Chaudry, Voy’s Chief Medical Officer, said: “The oral pill marks a significant development for eligible adults and healthcare professionals considering evidence-based options for chronic weight management.”
