
Life after Ozempic: ‘Half the weight I'd lost, I put back on over six months'
John Kane always had an easy solution to being overweight: buy bigger suits. And then, came one fateful afternoon. 'I remember sitting on the couch, and I dropped something and I went, 'yeah, I'll leave that',' the 76-year-old from Killiney, Co Dublin recalls. It reminded him of his mother, who had mobility issues in her final years. 'She too would drop something, and would often just have to leave it there.'
Up until that point, nine years ago, Kane's climb to just under 19 stone had been slow yet inexorable. 'I used to have a very active life and played sports in my 30s, but then I had started to entertain people [for work], so I used to have lunch with somebody, then take someone else out at night,' says Kane, who worked in sales and marketing. 'I didn't think about it too much but then someone said to me, 'you can't come on this walk with us. You just won't be quick enough'. Socially, you start to lose out.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dad who lost 7 stone on Mounjaro reveals how he deals with loose skin after rapid weight loss
There's an unavoidable side effect of rapidly losing a lot of weight—you're often left with a lot of loose, sagging skin—and a man who shed seven stone in a year has opened up about the realities of living with it. Many people in his situation undergo painful plastic surgery procedures, known as full body lifts, to tighten their redundant pouches and folds of flesh, trusting surgeons slice off excess bits of skin to give them a sleeker silhouette. But super slimmer Jon, who shares his experiences taking weight loss jab Mounjaro on social media, has decided to do the opposite. Jon, who boasts over 21,000 followers on his TikTok page @jonboys_losingit, revealed that he's happy with his new shape, even if it might seem unsightly to other people. In a video, he poses confidently in front of the mirror pinching the skin on his abdomen and hips. He added in the caption: 'Biggest question I get asked… I can deal this with this.' His followers loved his attitude, with one man commenting: 'I'd be happy with that. What was your skin routine through your weight loss journey?' Jon explained that he hadn't followed anything in particular, but was keen to start lifting weights. Another follower said: 'The loose skin is my struggle, not quite ready to embrace it yet but well done you'. Showing a different attitude altogether, another follower said: 'I see the loose skin as a battle scar, it's there to remind me everyday of what I've achieved.' Jon previously told his followers how he came to lose seven stone in just 12 months, sharing his five top tips for success. After starting on Mounjaro on June 25 2024, he has maintained a calorie deficit, using a Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Calculator to find out his basic calorie needs. He explained: 'All you'll simply do is put your height, your weight, your age in. It'll work out what your specific calories need to be each day. 'I definitely recommend in your first few months of starting Mounjaro, that you start tracking calories. 'That's going to make sure that you're not going above your calorie deficit, but also, again, more importantly, that you are eating enough. 'It's good to make sure that you have actually enough, because you are going to feel crap if you don't eat enough calories.' Jon says he is often asked about loose skin, but he can 'deal with it' His second tip was also related to nutrition, urging his followers to make sure they are hitting their daily protein goals. 'That's going to prevent muscle loss, and it's also going to make you feel fuller for longer as well,' he said, adding that the TDEE calculator can also work out your macros so you can make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need. Tip number three was to make sure you stay hydrated, and number four was to avoid comparisons with people's extreme before and after photos, and to stay focused on maintaining a calorie deficit. His final tip was to not get caught up in the pros and cons of different jab sites—users can inject in any fleshy area in the thighs, stomach or backs of their arms—and just go with what is comfortable for you. Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is a weekly jab that can help patients shed up to a fifth of their body weight in a year. It will reportedly be offered to around 220,000 people over the next three years under new NHS prescribing rules. GPs can now prescribe the drug to patients with a BMI over 40 – classed as severely obese – and at least four obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea.


Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
Doctor shares ‘rare but serious' Mounjaro side effect and how to recognise it
It can result in patients having to come off the medication. Mounjaro has been taking the world by storm since it began rolling out on the NHS earlier this year. Around 220,000 patients are to be prescribed the weight loss drug over the next three years. But as with any medication, Mounjaro doesn't come without its side effects. Common consequences of taking the drug include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, which around one in 10 people taking the jab will experience. While these common symptoms can be managed, there are also side effects of the weight loss medication that are much more rare and can do significantly more harm. Dr Ethan Melillo, who often shares health advice to his 550K TikTok followers, has warned in one of his videos of a 'rare but serious' side effect of Mounjaro- acute pancreatitis. The doctor said: "Whenever I'm counselling a patient about [Mounjaro], I do mention this because it is a rare but it is a serious side effect." And the health professional's claim is backed by Mounjaro manufacturers, who list pancreatitis as one of the drug's most severe side effects. Here's everything you need to know. What is pancreatitis? The NHS explains that acute pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas (a small organ behind the stomach that helps with digestion) becomes inflamed over a short period of time. Most people with acute pancreatitis start to feel better within about a week and have no further problems. But some people with severe acute pancreatitis can go on to develop serious complications. Acute pancreatitis can develop into chronic pancreatitis, which is when the organ becomes permanently damaged from inflammation over many years. How does Mounjaro cause pancreatitis? Health website Second Nature explains that Mounjaro mimics the hormones which affect our hunger levels and the pancreas. While the drug primarily affects insulin levels in the body to improve blood sugar levels, it also activates receptor cells in the small ducts of the pancreas. When Mounjaro binds to these receptors, the cells can grow slightly, narrowing the small ducts that drain digestive enzymes out of the organ. Very rarely, this can lead to a backup of digestive enzymes, triggering inflammation and causing acute pancreatitis. The official medication guide for Mounjaro lists pancreatitis as a severe side effect of taking the medication. It says: "Stop using MOUNJARO and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back." What are the symptoms of pancreatitis? Pancreatitis effects less than one in 100 people who take Mounjaro, but it's important to know the signs as the condition can be dangerous. The NHS lists symptoms of pancreatitis as: suddenly getting severe pain in the centre of your tummy (abdomen) feeling or being sick a high temperature of 38C or more (fever) Article continues below The doctor continued: "I tell patients that if you experience any pain in your stomach that radiates to your back to let me know right away and then we can discuss stopping the medication. "Your doctor may also do bloodwork as well on an annual basis, just to make sure that you're tolerating the medication." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.


Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Jabs like Mounjaro 'could help manage asthma for obese people'
Researchers said the drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with the respiratory condition, who are "often resistant" to steroids Injections used by those trying to lose weight could potentially alleviate asthma symptoms in obese people, a recent study suggests. The research indicates that these drugs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), should be considered as a potential treatment for obese people suffering from the respiratory condition, who are "often resistant" to steroids. These injections - originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes - function by imitating the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Several variations of the drug are recommended by the NHS to combat obesity, including semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Previous research has suggested that these drugs may significantly reduce the risk of diseases such as dementia and stroke. An international team of experts is currently investigating their potential impact on obese people with asthma, reports Bristol Live. Professor David Price, chair in primary care respiratory medicine at the University of Aberdeen, stated: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids." In the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs, and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. Following a period of observation, the team discovered that those taking the injections lost more weight and had improved control over their asthma. Researchers have suggested that medical professionals "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price stated: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. "In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further." Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, commented: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs." Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. "Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. "It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment."