A growing number of high-profile figures are turning to prescription weight loss injections, but they are paying a significant price in side effects. Stars including Jeremy Clarkson, Sharon Osbourne, and Stephen Fry have openly discussed the often unpleasant symptoms they experienced while using drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy.
The High-Profile Users and Their Experiences
Jeremy Clarkson, the 65-year-old presenter of Clarkson's Farm, has been using Mounjaro and reported a substantial weight loss of around three stone. However, he highlighted an unexpected impact, telling The Sun's Sun Club: "Constipation? No, I don't have that. Diminished libido? I'm 65 - it's hard to know what's causing that." His experience shows the varied and personal nature of the drugs' effects.
Sharon Osbourne admitted in 2023 to using medication to lose 42 pounds. The 71-year-old told Piers Morgan about the initial side effects, stating: "At first, I mean, you feel nauseous... It was about two, or three weeks where I felt nauseous the whole time. You get very thirsty and you don't want to eat." She also expressed concern about younger people having access to these treatments.
Severe Reactions Force Some to Stop
For others, the side effects became too severe to continue. Comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry, 66, was an "early adopter" of Ozempic but had to stop after becoming severely ill. He confessed: "I was throwing up four, five times a day and I thought, 'I can't do this.' So that's it." He also noted that the newer drug Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, was reportedly even worse.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried the medication after seeing its effects on a colleague, initially losing four or five pounds a week. He wrote in the Daily Mail that he soon began to "dread" the injections due to making him feel so unwell, leading to episodes of vomiting. He has since reverted to exercise and willpower for weight management.
Common Symptoms and Wider Concerns
The reported side effects from these GLP-1 agonist drugs are extensive. Commonly cited symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Excessive thirst
Even tech billionaire Elon Musk, who used Wegovy and felt "fit, ripped, and healthy", reported an unusual side effect: smelly burps reminiscent of rotten eggs, which he described as "next-level."
The candid revelations from these celebrities highlight that while these drugs can drive significant weight loss, they are far from a simple solution. The experiences underscore the importance of medical supervision and a realistic expectation of potential physical costs, even for the wealthy and famous.
