'I lost 1.5st with weight loss jab – one thing in particular blew my mind'

Annie Dalby had fallen within the "obese" BMI category, but said taking the semaglutide-based jab Wegovy was like "having a brain transplant" and removed "food noise"

Annie Dalby, who once fell into the "obese" category on the Body Mass Index (BMI), has experienced a transformative weight loss journey, describing her use of a weight-loss jab as akin to "having a brain transplant" for its ability to silence "food noise".

Despite trying various diets such as WeightWatchers, Slimming World, and the "fairly extreme" Cambridge Diet, Annie found that while she saw some results, the weight would "inevitably" creep back up.

She believes this was because these methods didn't tackle the "deeper, more holistic questions" surrounding her eating habits.

Trapped in a cycle of struggle with her weight, even with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Annie also faced challenges due to an underactive thyroid, which she says was "triggered" during her second pregnancy.

However, since mid-May, Annie says she has shed 21 pounds thanks to the weight-loss jab Wegovy – a brand name for semaglutide and a medication also used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

More than just aiding in weight reduction, the jab has had a significant effect on Annie's overall well-being.

She expressed her amazement at the effectiveness of semaglutide, saying: "The fact that the semaglutide has facilitated this weight loss still blows my mind, that I can see the scale go down after so many years if that makes sense - of it just not going anywhere. It's all in the opposite direction. So that, for me, is still so groundbreaking."

Annie, who has undergone a significant weight loss transformation, attributes her success to semaglutide. She said: "Oh, 100%. Without a doubt. It's completely...the way I say it, it's like having a brain transplant. I cannot tell you what a relief it is not to have that food noise."

She further explained the struggle of dieting and how the medication has helped her overcome it.

"I see people genuinely in the office, these predominantly women, but some men as well, like, 'oh, what have you got for lunch? ' 'Aw, I'm just going to go and have my like meal replacement soup for lunch'. And I just think, ’Oh my God’, it's such hard work because you still, you know, for those people that still feel hunger, they still have all that food noise. Whereas for me, that's completely eradicated."

She continued: "I cannot tell you what a difference it is and, when you are obese, how much of your time is spent thinking about food or the guilt cycle. If you have eaten something bad, to have that taken away has completely changed my life."

Elin Skoglund, an MD and the head of clinical operations at Yazen, elaborated on the concept of "food noise". They explained that the medication works on the "reward system" in the brain, with many patients experiencing a sense of relief when the noise decreases.

They described this as a reduction in the distractions from "constant thoughts of food", meaning they no longer have to use food to tackle stress or anxiety or give them comfort.

Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in the much-discussed medication Ozempic, but this is not approved for weight loss in the UK and is solely used for diabetes treatment. However, Wegovy, along with liraglutide-based medication Saxenda, has been given the green light and is available on the NHS for weight management, as per the British Heart Foundation.

The NHS explains that both liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Wegovy) work by making patients feel fuller, with liraglutide taken daily and semaglutide taken weekly. These medications can only be prescribed by a specialist weight management service, although a doctor may suggest them if diet or exercise changes have proven ineffective.

It's emphasised that these medications must be taken alongside diet and exercise. Semaglutide will only be prescribed if you have weight-related health issues and meet certain BMI criteria.

Liraglutide isn't suitable for individuals with specific health conditions, including liver or kidney problems. It will only be prescribed if the person has a certain BMI, non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), and is at risk of heart complications.

The British Heart Foundation also highlighted that Wegovy has been approved to help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in those with heart and circulatory diseases. Despite this, Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy warned the Mirror in May about potential side effects of Wegovy, including nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, as well as constipation, stomach pain and bloating.

More information about liraglutide and semaglutide can be found on the NHS website.