A woman from Sunderland who successfully lost over four stone with the medication Mounjaro has revealed she now expects to take the drug for the rest of her life, facing a monthly bill of £200, after her weight rapidly returned when she tried to stop.
The Struggle to Stay Off the Medication
Kelly Parish, a 32-year-old talent executive, began using the weight loss injection in October 2024. She was over 15-and-a-half stone, a size 18, and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The treatment proved highly effective, and by July 2025 she had reached a comfortable 11 stone 7lbs, fitting into a size 12.
Eager to see if she could maintain her new figure independently, Kelly decided to wean herself off Mounjaro. However, within about 20 days of the drug leaving her system, she faced a significant challenge. "The food noise was insane," she explained, describing the return of intense cravings and her old eating habits.
Despite attempts to count calories and stay active at the gym, Kelly found herself caving in to late-night snacking and consuming large pizzas again. She gained 9lbs in a matter of weeks, leaving her feeling defeated and engaged in a mental battle about whether to resume the medication.
A Lifelong Financial Commitment to Health
After initially resisting due to pride and skyrocketing costs, Kelly made the decision to restart Mounjaro in October 2025. She adopted a new approach, using the drug as a "helping hand" rather than relying on it completely. She began on the lowest dose, eventually moving to 5mg, and combined it with conscious calorie counting and exercise.
The results were swift. Her cravings for desserts and sweet things vanished, and she lost the regained weight plus more, totalling a stone in loss. Kelly has now accepted the prospect of a lifelong financial commitment to the drug, which she manages through instalment plans.
"I pay £200 per month," she said, "but that would go on takeaways if it wasn't for Mounjaro! I'd rather be on it for life than be overweight. My health is my first priority."
The Trade-Off: Weight Loss vs. Enjoying Food
Kelly's journey with Mounjaro has not been without significant downsides, primarily affecting her relationship with food. While on the medication, she experienced a dramatic change in her taste buds and a loss of enjoyment from eating.
"It has completely changed my taste buds," she admitted. "I have gone off the taste of food. When I eat, it's because I need it – and not because I enjoy the taste." She described feeling instantly full and put off by meals, a stark contrast to her previous habits of eating for pleasure, including dinners followed immediately by takeaways.
For Kelly, the trade-off is clear. The drug's ability to silence "food noise" and control her appetite is worth the monthly cost and the altered eating experience. Her story highlights the complex, long-term reality for many using powerful new weight-loss medications, where maintenance often means continued use.
