Introduction: The growing role of obesity medications
Weight-loss injections, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), have become a pivotal option for many facing obesity and related health issues. While they offer meaningful health benefits for some, users describe a complex landscape of costs, side effects, emotional strain, and ongoing questions about sustainability. Here are firsthand accounts from people across different backgrounds who have tried these medications while navigating work, family, and finances.
Helena: From mobility to hiking, with cost as a barrier
Helena Gilhooly, in her late 50s, runs Busybeaders, a small jewellery business, and describes how late-night work fostered unhealthy eating habits. Last year she tried Ozempic and initially lost weight, but the costs quickly became a barrier. She spent about €60 on a GP visit, €30 on blood tests, and €145 for one month of Ozempic. After eight weeks she had lost 18 pounds, but dizziness from not eating and a personal loss compounded the challenge. She paused the treatment, then resumed in March, only to experience stomach cramps and the feeling that microdosing didn’t deliver weight loss. For Helena, affordability remains a major obstacle that influences ongoing use, even as she hopes to return to better health and more active days ahead.
David: A mental shift beyond the scale
David Harte, 44, a strength and conditioning coach, says the biggest benefit of his weight-loss journey with Mounjaro is mental freedom rather than rapid weight loss. He describes a significant reduction in “food noise” and a brighter mood reported by his wife: “You’re actually a nicer person on it.” With costs at about £260 per month and the option to microdose, he faces a difficult decision about long-term affordability. While he has approached weight loss as a tool to improve overall health, the cost and access issues loom large for many patients.
Amanda: A life-changing kickstart, with dietary focus
Author and former Miss Ireland Amanda Brunker discusses starting Ozempic at the start of the year. She notes that reductions in inflammation and overall well‑being followed years of trying various diets. For Brunker, the drug provided a necessary kickstart: she’s lost more than three stone and now emphasizes protein, gym work, and sustainable habits. The experience hasn’t been simple; meals that once felt enjoyable can cause discomfort, and she cautions that long-term reliance requires careful management of side effects and lifestyle changes.
Carmel: Balancing diabetes, cost, and evolving therapy
Carmel Greene, 52, works in financial services and has navigated several therapies—from Synjardy to Ozempic—before moving to Mounjaro. The cost, not reimbursed in her scheme, stands out as a major concern alongside side effects like heartburn and digestive changes. For many patients like Carmel, the question isn’t just whether a drug works, but whether it is financially sustainable in the long run, even as it helps improve diabetes metrics and weight.
Saoirse: Pressure, not necessity, and the stigma challenge
Saoirse, 36, faces sleep apnea and family pressure to pursue medications. She resists, explaining that she’s trying to manage weight through diet and exercise but struggles with the perception that weight loss drugs are a last resort for only the severely overweight. She worries about social implications, such as family events where weight becomes a focal point, and she questions whether she would qualify for prescriptions based on her body mass and health profile.
Aaron: A medical professional’s perspective on necessity and cost
A doctor and father in his late 30s, Aaron describes an experience with Mounjaro that helped him drop weight and reduce cravings, from 90 kg to 75 kg in four months. He emphasizes that dieting and exercise alone often don’t suffice for many people and cites cost as the biggest barrier. He notes stigma in some medical circles but argues that obesity is a chronic condition that warrants access to effective care when appropriate.
Claire: From mobility to motivation and family wellness
Claire, 52, began Mounjaro after back problems and a period of needing a mobility scooter. Since starting the treatment in June 2024, she has lost around 5.5 stones and regained an active lifestyle with hikes and park outings. She highlights how the medication has helped her become a healthier role model for her child and how it has reduced reliance on medications that limited her daily function. She also notes the social challenge of eating out and the occasional impact on appetite and alcohol use, framing the drug as a tool rather than a cure.
Nicola: A long journey with Ozempic, setbacks, and renewed hope
Nicola has battled weight for decades. Her first experience with Ozempic delivered a dramatic 23 kg loss, but side effects and the weekly injections tempered enthusiasm. After a relapse, she returned to Ozempic, embracing a more measured perspective: the weight change has been slow but meaningful, and she frames obesity as a chronic condition rather than a finish line. She continues to wrestle with cost, side effects, and the emotional toll of long-term treatment.
Conclusion: A tool with limits and a hopeful future
Across these stories, weight-loss injections emerge as powerful tools that can transform health and daily living—when accessible, affordable, and integrated with sustainable habits. Users repeatedly highlight that the benefits extend beyond pounds shed: improved energy, mental clarity, and a calmer relationship with food. Yet costs, side effects, and the need for ongoing medical supervision remain central considerations. As researchers, doctors, and patients continue to discuss these medications, the goal remains clear: to empower people to live healthier lives with support that fits their financial and personal realities.
