ONE woman is on them, one’s not.
So how have weight-loss jabs impacted their friendship?
‘I feel awful about jabbing, because she can’t afford to’
Opening the fridge and seeing the Mounjaro pen on the shelf, I felt guilty.
I didn’t know how I’d tell my best friend Kimberly I was about to join the thousands of women on fat jabs.
I hoped it would finally help me conquer my weight issues, but at what cost to our friendship?
For so long, we’d been each other’s ‘fat friend’, enabling our terrible eating habits, and never judging as we both got bigger.
Now, I felt I was betraying her by planning to use medication to slim down.
Kimberly and I went to school together, although didn’t become friends until we had kids.
We weren’t close because of our weight, but it was something we had in common.
Nights out at bingo, eating our way through the menu of loaded fries and pizza, a cheeky McDonald’s, fried chicken and pints of cola at my house after work – there were always three of us in our friendship: me, her and food.
From time to time, we’d dabble in dieting, joining a slimming club or juicing, but we could never stick at it.
By 2022, I was feeling really low about my weight.
I was 24st 6lb and was a size 28.
I could barely walk up my street, it left me so breathless.
I spoke to Kimberly who admitted she felt the same, so we resolved to do something drastic.
Our GPs put us on a waiting list to see if we met the criteria for a gastric-sleeve operation.
In February this year, Kimberly had her appointment, by then weighing 21st and a size 22, and I went along for support.
When she was told she wasn’t a candidate for surgery and needed to lose weight naturally, both of us were devastated.
It was also a ‘no’ when she asked if the NHS would prescribe her weight-loss medication, as she couldn’t afford it privately.
‘Opportunity I couldn’t turn down’
It was only then that I thought about medication myself.
I had so much weight to lose, it just felt impossible doing it naturally.
I knew I’d have to be on Mounjaro long-term, but it was so expensive.
When my dad offered to help with the cost, it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
But I felt anxious, as I knew Kimberly wouldn’t have the same option.
My first Mounjaro pen sat in the fridge for weeks as I plucked up the courage to tell her, and her reaction broke my heart.
She was upset I’d kept it secret from her, and that I had this option when she didn’t.
She was also very supportive, but I knew she was hurting and I felt like my decision had driven a wedge between us.
I injected for the first time in March and, since then, I’ve gone from a size 28 to a 22, and dropped from 24st 4lb to 19st 10lb.
I don’t tell Kimberly when I’ve lost weight, as I can tell it’s hard for her.
Charlotte Wright
I still have a long way to go, but already I feel much happier.
I’m able to be the active and fun mum I want to be – not breathless, exhausted and unhappy.
But I don’t tell Kimberly when I’ve lost weight, as I can tell it’s hard for her.
To begin with, I suffered from nausea and vomiting, but felt guilty complaining about it to Kimberly in case she thought I was ungrateful.
Also, I know it’s less fun for her watching me push food around my plate when I’m full after a few mouthfuls, as we used to love pigging out together.
Kimberly is still talking to her GP about starting jabs – I just want her to have the same chance as me at losing weight.”
‘I’m frustrated and envious that it’s not me on fat jabs’
“Biting into a large slice of pizza, I glanced across the table at Charlotte, who was nibbling unenthusiastically on an onion ring. I knew she didn’t even want it, she was just eating to keep me company.
I used to love our nights out at bingo, stuffing our faces while we played, but since Charlotte started jabbing it hasn’t been as fun.
It’s just one of the many changes to our friendship dynamic since she started taking Mounjaro – and I didn’t.
Like Charlotte, being overweight has been a feature of my entire adult life. I was a size-16 teen, the biggest girl in the class, and a size 18-20 before I had my first child at 21.
‘Food is my comfort’
Since then, I’ve steadily gained weight, and today I’m 20st 10lb and a size 22.
Food is my comfort – however I’m feeling emotionally, I’ll turn to food, including when I’ve previously suffered from depression.
And with three children, including one with additional needs, I often opt for convenience and neglect myself, ordering a takeaway.
I’ve never been ‘happy’ about being overweight, but I came to accept it, especially after trying and failing to lose weight by myself, but never being able to find the willpower long-term.
And my friendship with Charlotte was part of finding that acceptance.
However, when she told me in 2022 how low she felt about her weight, I admitted I felt the same.
It was a huge shock when, earlier this year, I was turned down for a gastric sleeve and weight-loss jabs on the NHS, and told I needed to lose weight on my own, despite never succeeding in the past.
When Charlotte confessed a few months later she was going on Mounjaro, I was shocked and hurt.
I miss the giggles we’d have when we’d swear each other to secrecy about having a takeaway.
Kimberly Grant
Not only had she kept it from me for several weeks, but I was envious she had this choice, when it was simply unaffordable for me.
I knew we were no longer equals in trying to address our weight – she had a huge advantage and I was going to be left behind, trying once more to do it myself with not much success.
We’ve both struggled with how it’s impacted our friendship.
It did sting when she’d tell me about her weekly weight loss.
Now, I feel guilty she doesn’t talk to me as much about her jab journey, because she doesn’t want to upset me.
We were like sisters before, who shared everything. I miss the giggles we’d have when we’d swear each other to secrecy about having a takeaway.
If I have a rubbish week and order a Friday-night Chinese, I can no longer message her to find out if she is doing the same, because I know she won’t be.
I’m happy for Charlotte that she’s on this path to being slimmer and healthier, but we’ve always been able to relate to each other’s weight battles.
Now, I can’t share this with her.
Watching her body change and her confidence and energy soar, I’m really pleased for her, but frustrated and envious it’s not me.”
