Karen Park, a 59-year-old customer service manager from Somerset, England, has shared her experience of losing eight stone over 18 months using the weight loss medication Mounjaro. Park's weight initially reached 18 stone 12 pounds with a BMI of 42.9, placing her in the morbidly obese category. After starting Mounjaro in July 2024, she now weighs 10 stone 7 pounds with a BMI of 24, fitting into a size 10.
Park admitted to being a "secret jabber," keeping her treatment private for several months, with only her husband aware of her method. She cited a desire to avoid judgment and the need to justify her personal healthcare decisions as reasons for her secrecy. Her research on TikTok led her to positive testimonials about weight loss injections, but she remained wary of disclosing her use to friends and family, particularly after years of unsuccessful diets and public conversations about her weight.
"I didn't know how people would react, and I didn't feel I should have to justify a personal healthcare decision that I'd made for myself," Park stated. She also noted the polarized media coverage and varying opinions among her social circle regarding weight loss medication.
As she began to lose weight, Park told others she was adopting a healthier lifestyle. She took measures to conceal her medication, storing it under vegetables in her refrigerator when guests were expected. She recalled occasional comments about her use of injections but said no one guessed her secret, as she consistently attributed her changes to healthier habits.
Park explained that her weight gain over the years was linked to using food as a source of comfort. Her previous diet included pastries for breakfast, sandwiches and pasties for lunch, and snacks of crisps and biscuits. She also regularly consumed flavored ciders, wine, and calorie-laden Frappuccinos, with her daily intake estimated at around 4,000 calories. Takeaways, particularly pizza, were common, especially after drinks with her husband. She noted that food had become a way to cope with stress or lift her mood, and convenience led to a reliance on takeaways instead of home-cooked meals.
Before embarking on Mounjaro, Park had tried various weight loss programs, including Weight Watchers, Slimming World, juice diets, meal replacements, and the Cambridge Diet, without lasting success. At her heaviest, she was also diagnosed as pre-diabetic, a diagnosis that concerned her and motivated her to seek a change before turning 60.
In July 2024, Park began Mounjaro through the online pharmacy PillTime. Within weeks, she noticed a steady decrease in her weight, with the most significant change being a reduction in her appetite. "The biggest shock was that I just wasn’t thinking about food anymore, it felt like the food noise had gone," she said.
Her lifestyle has since transformed. She now consumes a protein shake for breakfast, a sandwich and fruit for lunch, and a healthy home-cooked dinner, often featuring chicken or fish. She has also reduced alcohol consumption and stopped snacking, maintaining a daily intake of around 1,400 calories. Park continues to use Mounjaro to maintain her weight and reports that her pre-diabetes is now under control, significantly lowering her risk of developing the disease. She also attributes the weight loss to a newfound sense of confidence, enabling her to undertake activities she previously avoided, such as traveling alone.
"People need to think of weight loss treatment as a proper medication programme, and not just a quick fix - that’s why it’s worked so well for me," Park advised. She emphasized the importance of taking weight loss treatments seriously, ensuring proper monitoring, and making accompanying lifestyle changes like improved diet and increased exercise to achieve the full benefits.