A Member of Parliament who experienced significant weight loss using Mounjaro has cautioned against the use of unregulated weight-loss injections, likening it to “playing Russian roulette with their lives.”
Carolyn Harris, the Labour MP representing Neath and Swansea East, revealed she went from a size 24 to a size 10 after starting the medication in October 2024, citing mobility issues as a primary concern.
While acknowledging the “relentless criticism” she faced regarding her appearance from online commenters, Harris emphasized the importance of accessing such treatments through regulated healthcare channels for legitimate health reasons.
“I ensured I consulted a GP to obtain mine, rather than sourcing it online, to guarantee all necessary medical evaluations were conducted,” she stated.
Harris sought private treatment after struggling to navigate her constituency, a situation that came to a head during a walk around a Swansea lake to commemorate International Menopause Day.
“I encountered difficulties and had to stop after only a quarter of the way,” she recounted.
Another factor in her decision was the persistent and often harsh online commentary she received.
“My appearance and clothing choices had begun to overshadow my political work,” the 65-year-old told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
“While I can be assertive when advocating for a cause or others, I am deeply sensitive at heart.”
Harris stressed that individuals considering weight-loss drugs should do so strictly for health-related purposes.
The National Pharmacy Association recently expressed concerns regarding the increasing demand for drugs like Mounjaro and Ozempic, and the trend of individuals seeking them from beauty salons or through social media platforms.
In England, any professional prescribing weight-loss injections must be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
However, in Wales, only doctors are mandated to register with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), the Welsh equivalent, meaning other healthcare professionals are not legally bound to meet the same standards or undergo routine inspections.
Some experts have characterized this discrepancy as inadequate regulation, potentially fostering an unsafe black market for these products.
“Those who choose to obtain these drugs from unlicensed sources are gambling with their lives,” Harris warned.
“They have no way of knowing what they are injecting into themselves, and that deeply concerns me.”
The Welsh government stated that weight-loss treatments such as Mounjaro are prescription-only medications and “should only be obtained and used in accordance with a prescription from a registered and appropriately trained healthcare professional.”
“Individuals should only purchase prescription-only medicines from reputable suppliers such as registered pharmacies. Medicines obtained from unregulated sources pose a significant risk to public safety.”
“Healthcare professionals prescribing weight-loss treatments must adhere to the standards established by their respective professional regulatory bodies,” they added.
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