When I lost 3 STONE in 3 WEEKS through a free method better than any fat jab, I reversed my pre-diabetes. So did I put it back on? Six months on DONAL MACINTYRE reveals all... and says anyone can do it
No food. Just water, black coffee and sheer determination.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The most common side effects of different fat jabs revealed – as researchers find vomiting and nausea top symptom
FAT jabs do often sound like a magical quick fix to overeating and demanding hunger pangs. But the drugs can leave some users feeling seriously unwell and many in hospital. 2 After scouring social media, scientists have found the most common side effects of the popular fat-busting meds. Vomiting, nausea and headaches are the most talked-about side effects of the jabs, according to the new study, which analysed thousands of Facebook posts. The US researchers looked at how people in the US were discussing GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro on public pages. They found that gut issues were the most frequently mentioned side effects overall, especially among users of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro). Mental health concerns like anxiety and depression were also raised, but far less frequently. The study, published in JMIR Infodemiology, found that vomiting was most often mentioned in posts about Mounjaro, a drug containing tirzepatide, at 3.8 per cent. Meanwhile, Wegovy users mentioned depression more than any other group, with 1.57 per cent of posts referencing the symptom. The drugs, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, have soared in popularity thanks to their dramatic weight-loss effects, with celebs like Oprah Winfrey and Sharon Osbourne singing their praises. But they've also been linked to less glamorous side effects, such as joint pain, fatigue, hair loss, and in some cases, gallbladder problems. Despite the risks, experts say the drugs are still safe and effective for most patients. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons They help control blood sugar, trigger rapid weight loss, and cut the risk of dying from heart disease by around a fifth in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Roughly 1.5million people in the UK are now taking GLP-1 drugs, which have been hailed by some as game-changers in the fight against obesity. In the US, this number is even higher, with over 2 per cent of the population, approximately 4 million people, currently using these medications for weight loss. But health officials warn they are not a silver bullet and can come with side effects. The scientists found these effects varied by brand. Zepbound, a newer tirzepatide drug which is approved in the US but not the UK, was linked more often to high blood pressure, While Ozempic posts mentioned gallbladder issues most. Ozempic is approved for weight loss in the US but is only approved for diabetes in the UK. Scientists from the University of Maryland, who are behind the study, analysed nearly 60,000 unique public Facebook posts uploaded by US users of the medicines between 2022 and 2024, They used cluster analysis to map out which symptoms were often mentioned together. They found that vomiting, nausea and pancreatitis - a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed - often came hand in hand, while anxiety frequently appeared alongside depression and fatigue. Posts about side effects spiked after major events including the US Food and Drug Administration approving Wegovy for teens, celebrity endorsements, and wider insurance coverage in the US. 2 Despite these increases, the proportion of people talking about side effects actually dropped over time. Scientists say monitoring social media could be a useful way to spot side effects that might be missed or underreported in clinical trials. But they warned that Facebook posts don't tell the full story as symptoms were self-reported, which means they can be exaggerated or incomplete. There is also no way to verify dosage, how long people were on the drugs, or even whether they were using genuine products. However, the findings offer insight into what real-world users are experiencing, beyond the controlled world of clinical trials. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Trump's 'mysterious condition' resurfaces during Scotland visit
Donald Trump once again had a mysterious tan makeup caked on his hand Sunday during his trip to Scotland. The splotched hand appeared just weeks after The White House revealed that Trump has been diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency.' Earlier this month, Trump, 79, appeared at a White House press gaggle with what looked like makeup covering a patch on the back of his hand, sparking concerns. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the president recently 'noticed mild swelling in the lower legs' and was evaluated by the White House medical unit. Leavitt said he underwent a 'comprehensive examination' which included 'diagnostic vascular studies.' 'Bilateral, lower extremity ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency,' Leavitt stated. She said it's a 'common condition' in individuals over the age of 70 and there was 'no evidence' of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. 'The president remains in excellent health,' Leavitt said overall. The president has spent the past few days in Scotland meeting with everyone from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The makeup covering has been visible in multiple press photos throughout Trump's trip. The makeup appeared to be concealing a raised circular area of skin that Trump's team may have been eager to hide. The splotch has been visible on other occasions throughout the past month, sparking a new round of questions about the cause. Earlier this month, in a surprise statement during a press briefing, Leavitt told reporters the president was checked out by his doctor after noticeable 'swelling.' Leavitt said in response to a question that there was 'no discomfort from the president at all.' She then pointed to his daily activities. 'And you probably all see that on a day-to-day basis, he's working around the clock. As for the treatment, I can defer to the president's physician,' she said. The letter released by White House Physician Sean Barbarella, DO, references 'mild swelling' in Trump's lower legs, and states the diagnosis emerged after a series of vascular studies. Neither Leavitt nor the letter addressed whether Trump would have to modify any of his routines, which include frequent golfing at his private courses on weekends, and his trademark dance moves to 'Y.M.C.A.' when he addresses rally crowds. Leavitt said there was 'no discomfort' for the president at all. Officials have previously mentioned Trump's frequent handshaking – Trump regularly interacts with a large number of people at White House events and when he travels – as the cause of the bruising, but have not previously identified the aspirin issue. The bruising had stayed with Trump from the presidential campaign through his return to the White House. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins are damaged, making it more difficult for blood to return to the heart. It 'causes blood to pool in your leg veins, leading to high pressure in those veins.' The condition is fairly common, affecting one in 20 adults, and the risk increases with age. It can lead to achy legs, a feeling of 'pins and needles,' cramping, swelling and itching, as well as 'Leathery-looking skin on your legs.' Up to half the people who have had deep vein thrombosis later develop post-thrombotic syndrome within a year or two. That relates to scar tissue that can develop after a blood clot. Trump was the oldest person to take the Oath of Office when he was sworn in in January at age 78. He has said repeatedly that his predecessor Joe Biden, 82, had no idea what he was doing and this week opened a probe into an alleged 'cover-up' through his use of an autopen for a series of commutations. Trump reposted an item in May calling Biden a 'decrepit [expletive],' days after Biden got a prostate cancer diagnosis. Trump has made a point of demonstrating his own physical and mental vigor – taking question after question from reporters inside the Oval Office, sometimes speaking for up to an hour.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Is it true that … natural salt is healthier than table salt?
Flaky sea salt, pink rock salt, fleur de sel … Thanks to a generation of TV chefs sprinkling gourmet seasonings on dishes with flair, it feels instinctive that these natural, premium versions of sodium chloride are somehow healthier than humble table salt. And many of them market themselves that way – claiming that lower levels of processing and higher levels of minerals like potassium and magnesium make them the superior choice. But Sonia Pombo, a registered nutritionist and head of research and impact at Action on Salt, disagrees. 'The evidence linking a high intake of salt to raised blood pressure is very well documented,' she says. (Overconsumption is also linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer, osteoporosis and kidney problems.) 'Some of these companies may try to convince the public they're better,' she says. 'But if you look at the tiny amounts of magnesium or potassium in these salts, it's laughable. If you want micronutrients, eat a piece of fruit.' The benefits of electrolytes, too, are often overstated, she says. Saline drinks can be helpful if you're recovering from a stomach bug or training like an elite athlete on a restricted salt diet. But for most of us? 'They're not really necessary – we're already eating too much salt.' In the UK, adults are advised to consume no more than six grams of salt a day. The most recent figures show we eat 40% more than that – but even six grams isn't a target to aim for, Pombo says. 'We can survive and thrive on as little as one gram per day.' If you're worried about how much salt you use, the only 'better' kind is low-sodium salt. The real answer is to gradually reduce consumption – slowly, so you don't notice the difference. Cook at home more often and beware of hidden salt in products like bread and sauces.
