Weight loss injections are the health trend that’s hitting the headlines, but are they safe if you’re disabled? And could they even help prevent dementia? We investigate
Weight loss injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro have been all over the news, with users shedding an average of 22.5% of their body weight after 72 weeks of injecting Mounjaro, for example. One in four adults in the UK is living with obesity, which brings increased risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and stroke. So, with obesity now a major health crisis, the potential for weight loss medication to change lives – and the entire healthcare system – is high.
HUGE POTENTIAL
There are even suggestions these drugs may play a role in protecting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia. Research is finding links between excess weight, type 2 diabetes and a higher risk of dementia in later life. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, having type 2 diabetes can raise your risk of dementia by up to 60%.
One of the ways to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is through maintaining a healthy weight. This can be a real struggle for many disabled people, who may be living with mobility challenges, pain, fatigue or the side effects of medication. And this is where weight loss injections may help to make a difference.
GLP-1 receptor medications like Mounjaro have been available for around 15 years to help diabetics regulate their blood sugar, but now they’re available through the NHS when specific criteria are met, and via private prescription.
The drugs mimic a natural gut hormone which slows digestion, helps users feel full sooner, and can reduce cravings. Clinical studies have found they also improve blood sugar control and reduce cardiovascular risks, which could mean a lower risk of dementia – but scientists say it’s too early to know for sure.
However, the side effects can be hard to live with. Weekly selfadministered injections can lead to nausea, constipation and fatigue. They can also change how your body absorbs other medications. This is why it’s so important to discuss weight loss medication with your doctor or specialist team, especially if you’re on multiple prescriptions.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Kerry Riches considered weight loss injections for months before taking the plunge and obtaining a private prescription. The MS Society Ambassador explains: “I really did my homework on this. I knew I needed to speak to my MS team, my GP, my family and even my management team – I was worried the medication may affect my work commitments if I was sick for a few days after injecting.”
Kerry’s main motivation for using weight loss medication was the increasing intensity of her MS symptoms. “I’ve got a real positive mindset, I’m on some amazing drugs. The only thing I hadn’t thought about doing was losing weight,” she explains. “But I was happy and confiden. I was doing lots with the plus size community – I never looked in the mirror and thought I didn’t look nice.”
However, Kerry recalls trying to build Lego sets with her son and husband last Christmas, and realising her rings no longer fit her fingers and her fine motor skills were getting worse. She realised her weight was becoming a barrier to being healthy.
After researching her options, Kerry chose private prescriber myjuniper. co.uk, as they offer a package of support, including holistic care, a health coach, expert prescribers, and even a PT. Kerry understands the medication is about more than an injection, but actually about a lifestyle change and redefi ning her relationship with food.
IT BLOWS MY MIND
“My BMI was over 50,” Kerry says. “I was a big girl.” Kerry has had IBS since she was a teen, and has spoken in the press about the impact it (combined with her MS) has had. “My bowel movements are now normal. That’s been massive, because it’s debilitating when you go somewhere and you’re frightened of soiling yourself. I don’t take any IBS medication now,” she reveals. “It blows my mind.”
Using weight loss injections is not without challenges – for Kerry, the medication took some getting used to. But her early side eff ects – Kerry experienced nausea, headaches, and feeling colder – have passed now.
And, having lost four stones in fi ve months, she’ll never look back. “The main thing is, I’m not in pain when I wake up,” she reveals. “After eight weeks of being on the jab, one morning I realised I hadn’t woken in the night with painful legs or feeling like my fingertips were going to burst.”
“I could never have lost that weight on my own. I like food too much, and the jab takes away that food noise,” she explains, referring to the temptation to eat all the time, given how easy and convenient it can be to obtain junk food. “It’s enhanced my life in ways I didn’t think were possible.”
Kerry’s story is inspiring, but everyone’s situation is different. What helps one person may not be right for another, especially when multiple health conditions are at play.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Weight loss injections can be transformative, but they’re certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution. For disabled people, potential benefits like improved mobility and increased energy must be weighed against side effects, accessibility, and the need for ongoing medical monitoring.
But one thing is clear: the research into the impact these drugs may have on other conditions, including their potential to protect long-term brain health, means they won’t stay out of the headlines for long.