A STUDENT nurse is one step closer to her dream of having a baby after shedding 115lbs on Mounjaro.
Laurie Murray, from Airdrie, started using the weight loss jabs last April when she tipped the scales at 18st 10lbs.
She had already lost 2st through dieting in the two months prior to that, but was keen accelerate her weight loss journey.
Revealing the huge motivation behind her decision, the 34-year-old told Fabulous: "I’ve been suffering with infertility and my BMI was at a point that I wasn’t eligible for any help.
"I had went to my doctors to seek help knowing that there had been advancements in weight loss medications with the hope that I’d be able to get some help.
"But a few months later I was told they could only offer me an online weight loss programme."
According to NHS Scotland, women must have a BMI above 18.5 and below 30 to be eligible for free fertility treatment.
So with financial help from her supportive mother-in-law, Laurie went private to get weight loss medication.
She has since lost more than 8st on the jabs, weighing in at 10st 7lbs.
She said: "I’ve been big since I was in first year of high school, having always been at least a size 18.
"So my initial goal weight was 13st, not even knowing what that would look like."
Tirzepitide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro, is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs.
I've lost 3 stone in 8 months on fat jabs - there's a common error new starters are making & it means nasty side effects
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity.”
But despite this, the NHS warned: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.
"These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”
About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs - and the number is expected to double in the next year.
Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer.
The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over).
One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone’s weight.
The drugs can be lawfully supplied when prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
Everything you need to know about weight loss jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed pounds 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 patient.info, 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.
But increasingly, people have been buying them through online pharmacies with insufficient checks.
Only recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK.
And the family of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, are now calling for a probe into the jab's "potential to kill."
Despite the potential dangers, the weight loss drug has been life-changing for Laurie.
The healthcare support worker, who is also studying for her nursing degree, is now finally able to get fertility treatment in her bid to start a family with husband Chris.
She said: "Doing Mounjaro has allowed me to get my BMI to a place where I can get fertility help which is amazing.
"I feel like it’s allowed me to organise my head and live a better life.
"If I didn’t have to stop taking it to start a family I’d be on a maintenance plan."
"I thankfully haven’t had many people be judgmental at me using Mounjaro", she continued.
"Everyone’s been supportive as they know it’s to help me and my husband start a family.
"I don’t understand why people see it as cheating anyway.
"Is a gastric band cheating? Is taking any medication for a chronic condition? Mounjaro is by no means an easy route, you have to be dedicated and willing to put in lots of hard work."
Beyond sticking to a calorie deficit and taking daily vitamins, Laurie has smashed the common misconception that people who use skinny jabs are "lazy".
She is a regular in the gym and has even taken up running.
She said: "I started doing workout DVDs in the house before I started Mounjaro and then when I was a little bit more confident I started going to the gym and doing cardio and weights.
"This has been a constant in my journey and I decided to get a PT - @truegritcoaching - who helped me stay accountable for eating enough and the right things to build strength and muscle.
"I made sure from early on that I drank enough water, was using electrolytes, using supplements that would help my body which has helped me have minimum side effects.
"I’ve had nausea but nothing that drinking some water didn’t take away.
"I have been able to take up running since losing weight too. I have never been a runner in all my life, but with the encouragement and support of my friends we’ve started running and will be doing the Scottish Half marathon in August for St Andrews Hospice
"It has been life-changing for me. I’ve been able to quiet the food noise and concentrate on exercising and fuelling my body the way it needs."
The only drawback of her incredible transformation, Laurie admits, is the loose skin on her tummy and thighs which she says makes her feel "very self-conscious".
But she is learning to accept her new body and has even shared a video of her bare tummy to normalise this side effect of weight loss on her TikTok account - @lauriewendym - where she documents her Mounjaro journey.
She said: "I think I started out trying to make sure I was getting enough collagen but this slipped and could possibly be a contributing factor to my loose skin.a
What are the side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
"I do wish it wasn’t as prominent as it is but it’s there and isn’t the worst thing ever, my husband doesn’t mind it at all.
"Hopefully babies are in my future and then maybe I’d address it but for now it’s staying."
And social media users have praised Laurie for showing the "real side of weight loss" with her loose skin clip.
One person gushed: "You look unreal!!!!! The loose skin doesn’t change your beauty, you look phenomenal."
A second wrote: "You look great! And the skin isn’t as bad as you think but we view ourself so harshly post weight loss!"
A third added: "Well done babe showing the real side of weightloss. I've lost 9 stone over the past year and feel more self conscious now than what I did at 23 stone, you are stunning."
A fourth chimed in: "I hope you are so proud of yourself and your loose skin no matter what you choose to do with it. what an inspiration. Stunning no matter what."
Meanwhile, a fifth confided: "Your body looks like mine! 13 stone down NOT liking the wobbly bits, BUT very proud of the work put in."
