A mum who admitted that she has illegally put her 13-year-old child on Mounjaro weight loss jabs has spoken out on why she doesn't regret her decision.
Emma's* teen daughter Hayley is one of the15 percent of children in the UK aged two to 15 who are obese, but with a BMI of 30.3, she doesn't fit the strict criteria for Mounjaro on the NHS.
The weight loss jabs were recently approved for a phased rollout on the NHS for those with a BMI of 40 or more, and those with a BMI of 35 or more who also have a weight-related health condition such as type two diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Mounjaro works by mimicking the GLP-1 and GIP hormones in the body, which are responsible for regulating blood sugar levels and appetite, curbing feelings of hunger and cravings, therefore aiding weight loss.
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Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, describes the medication on its website as being for adults, as it warns that it's 'not known if Mounjaro is safe and effective for use in children.'
"We’ve tried everything to get Hayley’s weight down. Diets don’t work, she exercises, but it never changes her weight, and she’s miserable about her size compared to her friends," Emma, 43, told Metro.
Despite the GP recommending diet and exercise for Hayley, Emma says it 'hasn’t been that helpful at all.'
So, the mum turned to Mounjaro.
As Hayley doesn't qualify for a prescription of the medication, the teaching assistant has been buying the jabs for her daughter online by lying about who they're for on the form.
"It's a last resort, yes, but it’s working and she’s already lost almost a stone," she admitted.
Emma hasn't told the rest of the family that Hayley has been using the jabs, but she believes she's doing the right thing by her daughter, who is now 'growing in confidence' as a result of her weight loss.
"Hayley was so low about her weight for years. She’d cry and get upset that she couldn’t buy or wear the same clothes as her friends because of her weight.
"That’s changing now. I’m losing the sullen, quiet, sad teenager and she’s growing in confidence, that’s the only measure I need that I’m doing the right thing."
Hayley also opened up about using the jabs, telling Metro that she had asked her mum to look into it for her.
"It was my idea, and I asked Mum if we could look into it. I was a bit worried about being injected, and I couldn’t do it myself, but I love the fact I’m losing weight.
"My friends have all noticed and are complimenting me on it, which feels really nice," she said.
However, experts have a very different view.
Psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan warned: "Children are still developing physically and emotionally, and any medication must be used with great caution.
"Identity formation during childhood and adolescence is deeply tied to body image and self-worth. Introducing weight loss injections could inadvertently reinforce harmful beliefs about food and body image, leading to long-term issues with self-esteem and disordered eating patterns."
While Carolyne said that going down the route of illicitly-obtained Mounjaro may be 'well-intentioned', it could result in serious long-lasting effects.
"We’ve seen the negative consequences of well-intentioned but poorly managed approaches in the past. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the US trend of sending children to “fat camps” aimed to tackle weight concerns through intensive diet and exercise regimes was popular," she said. "However, many of those children reported long-lasting shame, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy relationships with food as a result."
According to Simple Online Pharmacy, as of January 2025, roughly 500,000 people in the UK are taking either Mounjaro or Wegovy to help them lose weight. Around 95 percent of people are purchasing the meds privately, online, which can run up a bill of around £150 a month.
Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, told Tyla: "In the UK, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is only authorised for the treatment of adults. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by regulated pharmacies and providers."
*Names have been changed for privacy reasons
Chloe Jackson