'You still have to work with it': Campaigner warns weight loss drugs are not a 'quick-fix solution' 

Eli Lilly said trials showed the key ingredient in Mounjaro — tirzepatide — is more effective than the more well-known semalglutide found in drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy. File picture

The makers of obesity treatment Mounjaro, known as the 'King Kong' of obesity drugs, have now applied to the HSE to have it considered for public patients.

Eli Lilly had already said it expected to make Mounjaro available in Ireland for private prescription in early 2025. A spokeswoman told the Irish Examiner it has now applied for reimbursement.

However if the reimbursement application also succeeds, the cost could be covered for eligible public patients.

However, new obesity treatments are not a quick fix solution despite the excitement building around a range of new drugs, including the so-called 'King Kong' of medications, a leading campaigner has cautioned.

Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity's Susie Birney said many people in Ireland have seen their health improve by using obesity drugs.

“I would say in about two years' time, there is going to be another four or five options for people,” she said.

“It’s this sense of excitement building that there is something here that finally people can use. Because people who’ve tried to lose weight have done that all their life.” 

Everyone will react differently to these long-term medicines however, she emphasised.

“You still have to work with it, you still have to watch what you eat, you still have to walk,” she said.

You have to choose the healthy options, it doesn’t work by itself. I think that’s the misconception, that it’s an easy quick fix for weight loss rather than actually treating a disease.

Some members of their support groups do better on older brands of drugs while others do well with newer brands.

“This is where an individualised approach is important, and you really need supervision,” she said.

“You need guidance. So the ones which have been around longer shouldn’t be dismissed because they still work for a huge amount of the population that need treatment.” 

Ms Birney advised people with obesity to instead “take a breath, and slow down, know that it is great to have another option".

Susie Birney advised people with obesity to instead 'take a breath, and slow down, know that it is great to have another option'. Picture: Abbie Trayler-Smith.

Eli Lilly said trials showed the key ingredient in Mounjaro — tirzepatide — is more effective than the more well-known semalglutide found in drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy.

A head-to head trial showed, they said “an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7%” in participants.

People using tirzepatide lost 22.8 kg and participants on semaglutide lost 15.0 kg, on average, the company said.

Ms Birney also said the recent RTÉ Investigates programme on illegal sales of weight-loss drugs was “shocking” to her.

“There’s those who need (these treatments) and those who want it and there’s a huge difference between them,” she said.

She urged people to contact doctors instead of taking advice from people online.

The pressure on people to lose weight quickly is generally disappointing, she said, especially when it comes after weeks of “aggressive food marketing” in the run-up to Christmas.

There’s this deep-rooted sense of ‘having any excess weight on you is wrong’. It is as if you have morally failed.

“I don’t think for all we have learned about obesity and about acceptance, I don’t think that has shifted much. It’s like people still believe there is something you failed at if you have extra weight,” she said.

RTÉ filmed a woman selling Retatrutide, an experimental medicinal product which is not approved for use anywhere globally.