63-year-old woman says app helped her lose 5 stone in 12 weeks, avoiding weight-loss injections

A 63-year-old civil servant from South Wales says she lost 5 stone in 12 weeks using a smartphone app that aims to change users’ relationship with food, a rapid transformation she said she achieved without using injectable drugs such as Mounjaro.

Lyn Fox, from Pontardawe, told reporters she had struggled with her weight for decades and had ‘‘given up with diets’’ after repeated cycles of losing and regaining several stone. At more than 16 stone and scheduled for scans ahead of potential knee replacements, she said she was ‘‘constantly taking pain medication for my knees’’ and believed weight loss would have a ‘‘massive positive effect’’ on her mobility and pain.

Fox said a group photograph taken at a friend’s inauguration in Bridgend last April was a turning point. "I looked like a blob, I just couldn’t believe what I’d become," she said. "Straight away I went back online trying to find an answer." She found Slimpod, an app developed by a Harley Street behavioural specialist named Sandra, which markets itself as helping users change the mindset that underpins unhealthy eating habits.

Fox described a lifetime of ‘‘nonsense’’ expensive diets that ultimately failed, leaving her with low energy and little will to try again. She said the app’s approach and programming helped her break the cycle and achieve substantial weight loss in a short period. The app’s developers present it as rooted in behavioural science, offering guided audio sessions and prompts intended to alter eating patterns and emotional responses to food.

The case adds to public discussion about the range of approaches people use to lose weight, from behavioural programmes and digital tools to prescription medications. Drugs in the GLP-1 class, including tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro), have been increasingly used for weight management in adults with obesity and have shown clinically significant results in trials. Fox emphasized that she did not use such injections in her journey.

Health professionals generally say that weight loss can reduce strain on weight-bearing joints and may improve symptoms of osteoarthritis, potentially delaying the need for joint replacement in some patients. They also advise that individuals consult a doctor before starting a new weight‑loss programme or considering medications, to ensure approaches are safe and appropriate for their medical history.

Slimpod and similar mindfulness or behavioural apps have attracted attention from consumers and clinicians alike. Proponents point to the potential benefits of changing eating-related behaviours and addressing emotional triggers, while reviewers and some researchers note that evidence varies across digital health products and that long-term outcomes are not always well established.

Fox’s account focuses on personal outcomes: she said losing weight restored her sense of agency after years of ineffective diets. She has shared her story to highlight an alternative route she found effective and to encourage others who feel trapped in cycles of weight loss and regain.

Public interest in effective, accessible weight-loss options continues to grow as people weigh the advantages and limitations of lifestyle programmes, digital interventions and pharmaceutical treatments. Clinicians stress individualized care, a comprehensive assessment of risks and benefits, and ongoing medical supervision where necessary.

The app’s creator and representatives for Slimpod were not immediately available for comment on Fox’s account. Fox declined to discuss any subsequent clinical assessments or whether her knee scans or surgical plans changed following her weight loss.