It was Boxing Day 2003, when after seven months on Orlistat, the wonder weight-loss drug of the early noughties, Moira was rushed to hospital. In her late 30s and weighing over 20 stone, Moira had started taking the daily pills that spring. At first, the pounds fell off and she relished her newfound body confidence.
After having shed a stunning eight stone, however, Moira’s family became increasingly concerned about her dramatic weight loss. They persuaded her to ditch the meds, which is when weight leapt back on, and Moira became plagued by severe stomach pains. Her Boxing Day trip led to emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder, followed by five weeks in hospital.
Moira learned from doctors that she almost died. Hers is a cautionary tale. For Orlistat promised the overweight of the early 2000s the hope that today’s next generation weight loss drugs such as Mounjaro offer to today’s 10 million or so adults classed as “living with obesity” – a safe short-cut to weight loss.
Marketed as a wonder drug, it was only some years afterwards that it became apparent the potential side-effects had been dramatically understated. Having been an overweight child, unable to participate fully in sport, bullied, and mortifyingly self-conscious, I have real sympathy with those struggling with their weight. If you’d told me as a 140lb, 11-year-old that a miracle drug could rid me of my excess baggage, I would probably have swallowed your hand whole.
I accept that there are som.
