A woman who once weighed 21 stone has revealed how she shed pounds using weight loss injections, only to regain the weight when she could no longer afford them. Pamela Phillips, 42, from Wolverhampton, has spoken out amid growing concerns about weight regain among those who stop taking such medication. Some experts suggest users may need to remain on the drugs indefinitely.
The Struggle with Yo-Yo Dieting
Pamela explained that the appetite-suppressing drugs did not address her long-term issues. She had battled with her weight since her teenage years, trying numerous diets. At her heaviest, she tipped the scales at 22 stone 7 pounds in 2010 after giving birth to her daughter. She would typically lose around four stone each summer, only to regain it in winter when she became less active.
Weight Loss Jabs: A Temporary Solution
In early 2022, Pamela began using the Saxenda weight loss jab, costing £170 per month via a private prescription. She weighed 20 stone 11 pounds at the time and lost three stone over the next three months. However, financial constraints forced her to stop the treatment. She said: "The jabs helped me lose the weight but it was expensive. When things get tight, you give up your luxuries - and the weight just crept back on."
Despite hoping to maintain her weight loss, Pamela's appetite returned, and old snacking habits resurfaced. By October, she had regained all the weight she had lost.
Turning to Bariatric Surgery
By the following January, Pamela was suffering from ongoing back problems that required surgery. However, the NHS deemed her weight too high for the operation, necessitating rapid weight loss. In May 2023, she opted for gastric sleeve surgery, dropping from 20 stone 8 pounds to 11 stone in the months that followed. Three years on, she has maintained the dramatic weight loss through lifestyle changes.
Pamela said: "I was told by doctors that I needed to lose weight fast for surgery to treat my back, which was when I looked into bariatric surgery. Since I lost the weight, I've kept it off, and I feel fitter, healthier and younger."
A Lifelong Battle with Weight
Pamela began her first diet at age 15, joining Weight Watchers after feeling larger than her peers. However, she always regained the weight. At 18, she started university weighing 15 stone, and throughout her 20s, she tried various popular diets from the early 2000s. Her weight peaked after having her first child in 2010 and a second in 2015. Before losing weight, three prolapsed discs in her back caused pain and limited mobility.
Pamela concluded: "You still have to think about what you're eating, but I still eat normal food, just smaller portions. Now I've got a thirst for life and it feels exciting."
