FOR years, Emma Morris hid from cameras, avoided mirrors and felt like a prisoner in her own body because of her weight.
But now five stone lighter and brimming with self-confidence, Emma is the face of a new kind of weight loss .
The 37-year-old mum credits her transformation to powerful new tool Zepbound, known as Mounjaro in the UK – a GLP-1 medication designed to help regulate the biology behing weight gain.
And while some critics call it “the easy way out”, Emma isn’t having any of it.
“This isn’t cheating, it’s survival,” the dental hygienist based in the US said.
“And for the first time in years, I finally feel like I’m living again.”
Living in Winder, Georgia, with her husband Stephen and daughters AvaGrace, 11, and Eliza Anne, 7, Emma’s life on the outside looked picture perfect.
But inside she was crumbling.
She weighed 18.5 stone at her heaviest, had no energy, her joints ached, and was “just surviving each day.”
“I had tried everything, clean eating, working out, you name it. But my body just wouldn’t cooperate,” said Emma.
She was also battling a string of health issues.
“I struggled with PCOS , inflammation, borderline high blood pressure , and extreme fatigue ,” Emma said.
“I went to doctor after doctor, and no one had answers. I was drowning in my own body.”
It wasn’t until a routine appointment with a nurse practitioner that everything changed.
“She looked at me and said, ‘If we can get some of this weight off, you’ll feel better’. That moment felt like someone had finally heard me.”
‘I’ve gained my life back’
Emma was prescribed Zepbound and within just a few weeks, Emma felt the shift, physically and emotionally.
“The inflammation started to go down. I could walk upstairs without pain,” she said.
“And that constant obsession with food, what I was eating, when I’d eat again, just stopped.”
What followed was a steady weight loss and a dramatic change in mindset.
“I’ve lost five stone, but I’ve gained my life back,” she said.
“I used to define success by a number on the scale. Now it’s about playing with my kids, enjoying dinner with my family, and loving the woman I see in the mirror.”
Zepbound didn’t ‘do it for me’. It gave me a chance to actually fight back
Emma Morris
Emma is quick to shut down those who claim medication is a shortcut.
“For years I blamed myself, thinking I was weak or lazy,” she said.
“But obesity is a disease, it’s hormonal, metabolic, and neurological. Zepbound didn’t ‘do it for me’. It gave me a chance to actually fight back.”
She compares the treatment to managing any chronic condition.
She said: “If I had diabetes , I’d take insulin. If I had high blood pressure, I’d take medication . This is no different.”
These days, Emma tracks her progress through more than just numbers.
“I journal my mental health , my energy levels, how my clothes fit,” she said.
“I take monthly progress pictures because sometimes the scale doesn’t reflect what’s really changing.”
She’s also built healthy habits that support her transformation, including walking daily, staying hydrated and prioritising protein.
And when tough days come, she “gives herself grace”.
She said: “This is a long-term journey. Not every day is perfect, but every day is progress.”
Emma’s definition of thriving has shifted.
She continued: “Thriving used to mean being thin. Now it means being strong, joyful, and fully present in my life. I’m a better wife, a better mum, and a better version of myself.”
And her transformation has deepened her connection with family and friends.
She said: “I used to avoid photos. Now I’m in the pictures with my kids. That means everything to me.”
Though she still hopes to lose another 30lbs (13.6kg), Emma no longer obsesses over the finish line, and said her goal now is to feel good and stay healthy.
Her message to others? To start small and be kind to yourself.
She advised: “Use the tools that work for you, whether that’s medication, therapy, or movement. And don’t ever let shame stop you from taking control of your health .”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR WEIGHT LOSS JABS ON THE NHS?
NHS eligibility for weight loss injections has expanded but still lags behind the number who could potentially benefit from taking them.
Wegovy, medical name semaglutide, is only available for weight loss through specialist weight management clinics.
Patients are typically expected to have tried other weight loss methods before getting a prescription.
They may be eligible if their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30, or higher than 27 if they have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
Mounjaro, known as tirzepatide, is also available from GP practices but currently only to patients with a BMI of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) plus four weight-related health conditions.
The medicines are currently being rationed to the patients most in need.
NHS watchdog NICE estimates that more than three million Brits will ultimately be eligible.
The GLP-1 injections are prescribed separately by GPs for people with type 2 diabetes, and patients should discuss this with their doctor.
