STANDING on the scales Clare Macnaughton lets out a howl of frustration as they stubbornly land on 16st 7lbs.
For seven weeks that number hasn’t shifted – despite the fact she’s been on the since November and has overhauled her lifestyle – eating more healthily, exercising more and cutting back on alcohol.
Five months on from starting the jabs, Clare, 52, has spent £1,250 on the injections but has lost a mere 7lbs.
According to studies, those who use Mounjaro usually see an 11% reduction in their body weight after four months meaning that by now, Clare ought to be well on her way to losing almost two stone.
Yet her unremarkable is the exact same amount she has shed previously through diet and exercise alone and with a BMI of 35.1, she is still classed as obese.
Mum-of-two Clare, a writer who lives near Warminster , 53, a roofer, and her daughter, Macc, 17, believes genetics are at play, meaning she is ‘resistant’ to the jabs and that’s why she isn’t losing weight.
‘Magic bullet not working’
She told Fabulous: “I think I am resistant to the injections which I thought would be the magic bullet that finally saw me lose weight. They aren’t working.
“Several friends have been taking it and the fat just melts away – one friend has lost an amazing five stone in a year, she looks like a new person and can’t sing its praises highly enough. She inspired me to try it as I need to lose the same amount.
“But the results haven’t been there for me. I’ll lose a bit, then gain a bit. It’s just like any other diet I’ve done, from juicing to Slimming World – a lot of hard work and no significant change.
“While Pete loves me for who I am, I’m desperate to be thinner for me – so I feel better and I’m healthier.”;;
Clare’s frustration is understandable – not only have her friends been losing weight, but she’s witnessed celebrities such as and shrink while on the jabs.
But while the success stories are obvious to see, Clare is not alone in struggling. There are a group of people classed as non-responders.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Dr Daniel Gordon, from private clinic Olive Health explains: “I’ve had a handful of clients who it hasn’t worked for. I check the basics first – for example that their injection technique is correct as it can be difficult.
“There are genetic reasons at play, after all some people can have a poor diet and barely exercise and still have a low body weight and others can try their best with a healthy diet and exercise and even gain weight or have difficulty losing it.
“Genetically we can metabolise medicines differently. There are already some medications – like a common blood thinner given after a stroke – that we test how people will respond based on their genetics prior to giving it to them.
“For some it may work, but for others it may not – and worse, it may increase their chances of unpleasant or dangerous side effects. It’s reasonable to assume that is the case with weight loss jabs too.”;;
‘Desperate to be thin’
Indeed, clinical trials showed that up to 15% of fat jab users were non responders while anecdotal evidence shows that it’s up to 20%.
In an article Dr Simon Cork, from Anglia Ruskin University, said: “Clinical trials have shown that people using weight-loss jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, lose anywhere between16%and21%of their body weight. But the drugs don’t work for everyone.
“It’s important to recognise that the causes of obesity are multifaceted. Our understanding of the genetic basis for obesity has grown significantly over the past decade, revealing that for many people, genetic variations have a significant effect on their weight.
“For example, a2021 studyfound that 0.3% of the UK population (equivalent to over 200,000 people) carry a genetic mutation in part of the brain circuitry that regulates appetite, leading to an average 17kg of additional weight by age 18.
“This genetic variability in the underlying causes of obesity could be one explanation for why some people show a blunted response to these drugs.”;;
‘Weight crept up’
Clare has lost under 5% of her 17st body weight and she believes it could be genetic – her battles with her weight have been ongoing since her early 20s and several members of her family also struggle to lose weight.
Clare, who’s 5ft 8 and a size 20, says: “I’ve never been naturally slim and I’ve watched what I eat from when I was 13.
“The last time I was the weight I’d like to be – 11st 7lbs – was in 1993 and since then it’s steadily crept up. When I started Monjauro I was 17st. I got it online but through a reputable clinic and have gone up as directed by the clinic from 2.5mg to 5mg, it’s costing me £250 a month.
“I’ve tried various diets over the years and always lost a bit then gained it back. I really thought this would be different. But it’s followed the same pattern – losing a bit quite quickly – I lost 4lbs in the first week – and then stagnating at pretty much the same weight. Some weeks I’ve lost a pound or so, but overall it’s only been 7lbs. It feels like I’m taking two steps forward and one and a half steps back. The progress has been tiny.
“And I don’t understand because I have overhauled my diet – I eat about half the amount that I used to and I’ve moved up to take more,I’m following the instructions – the drug comes from a known clinic, not the black market.
“My typical diet is eggs and avocado for breakfast, salad for lunch and a tiny portion of a normal home cooked meal for dinner. I’m eating clean. I’ve completely cut out processed food and bread and have added much more protein into my diet.
“Before I’d have some fruit for breakfast and then a bit later would be hungry again and have a bacon sandwich, then a salad or wrap for lunch followed by a large portion of something like spaghetti bolognaise.
“And I’m always on the go – I take mydog for long walks and never sit down to watch TV until 8pm.”;;
Despite the lack of success, Clare has decided to persevere with the jabs as it’s her last resort and she’s hoping that eventually they will kick in.
She says: “There have been some positives. For as long as I can remember I’d go to sleep thinking about food and wake up planning my menu for the day – that food noise has quietened down. I don’t feel hungry all the time and I feel more energised, and though the scales aren’t moving my clothes are fractionally looser.
I feel I am the only person not losing weight on this!
Mumsnet contributor
“I plan to give it another month or so and if it still doesn’t work maybe I’ll try swapping to a different type but I need to talk to my doctor as it might mean going all the way back to a starting dose.”;;
Clare is not alone in her disappointment. There are countless threads on Mumsnet and Reddit from people in the same boat.
For example a post from ‘Nicibee’ on Mumsnet on 30 April reads, “I have been taking Mounjaro for 3.5 months and am now on 10mg. I have only lost 6lbs in all this time. I eat clean and healthy, getting my steps in and doing all the right things. I feel I am the only person not losing weight on this!”;;
Another poster – ‘Mounjarowoman’ wrote in February, “I started with a BMI of 42, been on Mounjaro for two months, but haven’t lost any weight....clothes feel better but scales are not moving. No side effects. Shall I persevere? Any of you who did and started losing weight later on?”;;
Among the responses was ‘mounjaromarc’ who said, “Scales didn’t move for me on 5mg and put on 2kg on 7.5mg. It’s not working for me either.”;;
While Clare feels despair, Dr Gordon who prescribes the injections to patients does hold out some hope.
He says: “Some of my patients haven’t lost on for example Monjauro but when I move them to Wegovy they see excellent results and vice versa and what I’d consider doing for one of my patients.”;;
Meanwhile Clare will keep trying.
She says: “There isn’t a plan B and I’m desperate to be a healthy weight and at least I’m not gaining anything. I won’t give up yet.”;;
