The new weight loss jab trick the A-listers love… and it doesn’t just keep the weight off, there’s a raft of other health benefits and NO side effects

When I started Ozempic in April 2023, I was in the doldrums of perimenopause, with high cholesterol, prediabetic blood sugar, and a pound and a half overweight, causing crippling back pain.

After hearing all the horror stories about the side effects of taking Ozempic (nausea, stomach cramps, constipation or, at worst, an increased risk of pancreatitis and thyroid cancer), it was not a decision to make lightly.

Under the care of Dr Wendy Denning, a private GP in London, I started on a weekly dose of 0.25mg, which I gradually increased over four months, allowing my body to slowly adapt.

This allowed me to avoid most of the side effects – although I did suffer from excessive hair loss for a while.

Now, three months after stopping the shots, my health has been transformed.

I no longer have prediabetes, have lost weight and feel more energetic, confident and happier.

But how do I maintain the new me?

Until recently, my strategy was to gradually wean myself off. Six months ago I swapped Ozempic for Mounjaro, known as the King Kong of weight-loss drugs for its dual action on GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which provide additional metabolic benefits.

Then a friend suggested that the smartest thing to do would be not to get rid of Mounjaro but to microdose it, because mounting evidence is coming out of America – where these drugs are being used off-licensed beyond their approved indications for diabetes and obesity – for a whole series of people. other health benefits.

Microdosing involves administering small amounts to reap the benefits without side effects.

While the trend is currently limited to A-listers and the wealthy – who are often more interested in looking slim than having any real health problems – some doctors believe microdosing could have wider benefits too.

The anti-inflammatory properties of Ozempic,

A friend told Olivia Falcon about the microdosing trick when using Mounjaro to maintain weight loss

Mounjaro is known as the King Kong of weight loss shots because of its double-acting impact on metabolism

Mounjaro and oral semaglutide Rybelsus (for those who prefer a pill to an injection) are being investigated.

Early results suggest improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health, brain function, fertility, autoimmune diseases and neuroprotection against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. So it’s not surprising that microdosing of these drugs is a booming trend.

Tyna Moore is an American naturopathic doctor who went viral advocating microdosing of Ozempic. More than 2,000 people have taken her online course on how to do this.

“GLP-1s have benefits that have nothing to do with weight loss,” she says. ‘Hundreds of people contact me and tell me [me about] changes in their health.’

Moore speaks from personal experience. She has psoriatic arthritis and says microdosing eased her anxiety and depression, and reduced her chronic pain.

Dr. Denning says yes

considering microdosing of Mounjaro for patients with drinking problems, as there is evidence that semaglutides help curb alcohol cravings.

She also believes microdosing can effectively lower blood sugars in prediabetic patients, reducing the risk of heart disease and possibly dementia in the long term, because high blood sugar causes inflammation and this can damage brain cells.

Although microdosing is still quite a niche market, it is used by the world’s richest one percent.

‘There is more interest from slim individuals, especially women, who are looking into it for wider health benefits,’ says Dr Tamsin Lewis, chief Longevity doctor at Solice, a Mayfair-based medical service for the super-rich. This, she adds, could reduce brain fog and inflammation in menopause, as well as help control cholesterol, “all of which contribute to longevity and overall well-being.”

But Denning says she’s not convinced microdosing should be done indefinitely.

‘We won’t know the long-term effects of these drugs for another five or 10 years, so people using them purely for weight loss really need to think carefully about it, even small doses indefinitely.’

And every doctor I spoke to warns against buying online. “These medications are not without risk and without medical supervision, serious complications can occur,” says Lewis. ‘All treatments, especially off-licensed applications such as microdosing, should be carefully supervised by a qualified practitioner.’

I have decided to try to maintain my weight (nine and a half stone) and improve my health through regular exercise, smaller portions, monthly blood tests and daily weigh-ins. When things pick up again, I’m thinking about microdosing Mounjaro for short periods of time, with the support of my trusted doctor – but for now I’m determined to do it the old-fashioned way.

Olivia Falcon is the founder of @theeditorslist