In the world’s second-largest GLP-1 market, English men and women are increasingly turning to these treatments to support their weight-loss journeys. The vast majority of them opt to keep their decisions a secret. These drugs, including Mounjaro and Wegovy, have gained popularity among users seeking effective solutions to combat obesity. The stigma surrounding their use causes so many to hide their experiences from their friends and family.
Claire, a 50-year-old woman from Reading in Berkshire, has been using GLP-1 for weight loss without telling her family. She chooses to have her medication delivered and orders it through an online pharmacy, £160 a month. Claire is always reluctant to tell her story. She’s afraid of being judged in a world that tends to equate losing weight with being a morally good person.
Moira, 55, from the Cotswolds, who began taking Mounjaro last October, has already lost 10kg (22lb). She articulates that her life before taking the medication was overwhelmingly filled with chaos. Similar to Claire, Moira had been hiding her usage from her family.
I’ve had every kind of treatment, I’ve tried menopause, I’ve tried HRT, patches, everything,” Moira said. He’s used to letting things into the house but not really questioning what it is.
Yet for all of the positive outcomes that accompany GLP-1s, users are left to navigate a shame-infused landscape. Eliza, another Mounjaro user of seven months, recognizes the fight that’s going on inside most people. She reflects on the relief these medications bring: “They finally turn off the voice that encourages overeating.”
Paulo, a 36-year-old man, had been temporarily bedridden following an acute injury from a fall. So different than his private battle, he chose to take Wegovy. He’s been candid about his choice and now lives his life improving his health as a weight release without the weight of secrecy.
The gap in transparency regarding GLP-1 for weight loss is evident through Jasmine’s story. As a Mounjaro user, she should not be ashamed of her weight, she should be ashamed about Mounjaro. “At the end of the day, I have dieted. I’m just not getting that interference of being hungry all the time,” she stated. Jasmine recognizes the attention her weight loss draws from others: “You can’t lose this much weight without people wanting to know what you’ve been doing.”
Cameron, a central London retiree and opera lover, feels the same way. When approached with questions by his future sister-in-law about using Wegovy, he said the pressure to lie was on him. I explained, ‘No, I wouldn’t do it … because I’m not. And I wouldn’t!’ He said, “If she had asked me the right question, I would have happily answered her like this—‘Absolutely I am! But I can only answer the question she really asked.
This trend toward lack of transparency may be based on societal beliefs about weight and health. Gail Bohin, a clinical psychologist, mentioned that the idea of “cheating” on GLP-1s is a common belief. “We would never berate anyone for giving up smoking, but do we call it cheating if they use nicotine tabs?” Claire asked a probing question about the double standards that are at play here.
Moira’s experience reflects this societal pressure. I’m from a family of folks who are very big on opinion. Even my husband and mother — despite their best, well-meaning intentions — sometimes give criticism without knowing it. This one thing can truly dampen my chances of making impactful and life-changing progress,” she explained. As she continues her journey with Mounjaro, she feels trapped in her silence: “Now I’ve got to this point, I can’t really come clean.”
The stigma attached to weight loss medications is very high. Users are more likely to prioritize their health when they don’t have to feel like they’re sacrificing their social life. Jasmine articulated this struggle poignantly: “You may deride someone for being overweight, but when they take a medication to resolve that issue, you deride them for doing something about it.”
GLP-1s such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are becoming increasingly popular. That’s why it’s so important to encourage both understanding and widespread acceptance of their use. We know that the path to health and well-being is rarely straightforward and is deeply individual.