Woman who lost eight stone using Mounjaro says NHS should not hand out weight‑loss injections for free
Sarah White, a 37‑year‑old nurse from York, said she paid for Mounjaro and used it alongside diet and exercise, and opposes blanket NHS provision except for people with medical conditions
A woman who lost eight stone after paying for the weight‑loss drug Mounjaro said she does not believe the NHS should provide the injections free of charge to people who are overweight unless they have medical conditions such as diabetes.
Sarah White, 37, a nurse from York, said she began injecting Mounjaro in September 2024 when she weighed 22 stone. Over about a year she combined the medication with calorie control, running and gym classes and reduced to about 14 stone, going from a UK dress size 24 to roughly a size 16. White said she initially ordered doses privately, paying about £90 for her first dose and later facing higher monthly prices as the drug’s popularity increased.
White said long hours and caring for three young children left her little time to prepare fresh meals and to exercise before she tried the drug. She told reporters she had repeatedly tried diets such as Slimming World and low‑carbohydrate plans without long‑term success, and that appetite suppression from Mounjaro helped her make and sustain lifestyle changes.
"I was cynical but I decided to order the jabs as I saw the benefits of the appetite suppression," White said. "I am using Mounjaro to make the lifestyle changes so that when I come off the drug, I can stay healthy long‑term. I made myself fat so I should have the responsibility to sort it. I'm more than happy to pay for something that's aided me to lose the weight. Why should my obesity be a burden on an already crippled NHS?"
White said she supports NHS provision of weight‑loss medication for people with specific medical needs, including diabetes, but believes people who have gained weight through what she described as "unhealthy lifestyle" choices should pay for treatment themselves or make lifestyle and financial sacrifices to obtain it privately. She suggested a subsidised contribution model might be acceptable.
The comments come as officials in England consider wider availability of weight‑loss drugs as part of a 10‑year plan for the NHS. The plan, announced by health authorities, proposes expanding access to therapies that can reduce weight and lower the risk of obesity‑related illnesses. Supporters say broader access could prevent disease and reduce long‑term costs associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Critics warn of strains on the health service and debate over eligibility criteria.
White said her approach has not relied solely on medication. "All along I was implementing changes that I could stick to without the jabs," she said, adding that Mounjaro helped curb the urge to buy takeaways and made it easier to adhere to a calorie‑restricted diet. She described paying rising private prices for the drug — from around £90 to as much as £150 per dose — as an investment in her and her family’s future.
Health officials have emphasised that decisions about NHS coverage will need to balance clinical guidelines, evidence of long‑term benefit, cost and fairness. Clinical bodies have also highlighted the importance of combining pharmacotherapy with behavioural and lifestyle support to sustain weight loss after treatment stops. The drug White used, Mounjaro, is among several GLP‑1‑based therapies that have shown substantial weight‑loss effects in trials, but questions remain about who should be eligible for publicly funded access and how to manage demand.
White’s account illustrates how private access to medication has been used by some people as a pathway to weight loss, and it underscores ongoing policy debates about the role of NHS funding in obesity management. She said she would welcome NHS coverage for patients with medical conditions but opposed what she described as open‑ended provision to people she believes are responsible for their own weight gain.
Officials have not announced final eligibility criteria for any expanded NHS programme, and policymakers continue to weigh evidence, cost estimates and clinical guidance as part of broader planning for the health service's long‑term strategy.