HANNAH Metcalfe caught a whiff of something very unpleasant and felt her cheeks flush red.
“It’s him, he’s farted!” she squealed, pointing at one of the burly blokes standing nearby her at the New Year’s party. But the taste in her mouth told a very different – truthful – story.
In fact, the 31-year-old knew the rotten egg smell had come from one of her own burps – an embarrassing side effect of taking weight loss jabs.
Around three months after she first started using them, she began having these horrific burps that her friends and family would often compare to the stench of farts, much to her embarrassment.
But, despite the embarrassing side effect, Hannah says the weight loss jabs were well worth the trouble, and has gone on to drop an incredible 5st 11lbs.
At her heaviest, Hannah weighed 16st 7lbs and was struggling with health concerns as a result, including back pain and muscular issues.
Ashamed by her size, she refused to pose for pictures during her own 30th birthday trip to Las Vegas, and couldn’t properly enjoy the “once in a lifetime” holiday with her mum.
At her wits end, and having had no luck with diets like Slimming World, fasting and juicing,she decided to try weight loss jab Mounjaro last September.
But while the weight started to drop off of her, the unpleasant side effect reared its head.
When people noticed the “rotten eggs” stench, Hannah was forced to blame other people for breaking wind or pretended to wonder who was responsible.
“I’m incredibly fortunate that I’ve had a great experience – but I did experience some of the weirder side effects,” the accounts assistant, from Manchester, tells Sun Health.
“I started having sulphur, rotten egg-like burps after 12 weeks.
“They didn’t have any pattern and just happened randomly, no matter what I ate.
“I remember them being really warm in my throat, and the smell was horrendous.
“Usually people would think that I’d passed wind – and weirdly that was less embarrassing to admit!
“I kept quite private [during my weight loss] as it was really embarrassing.”
Hannah – who worked with weight loss program Juniper – also experienced constipation and dizzy spells, but kept a close eye on what she was consuming throughout her weight loss.
She said: “I knew some of the side effects might occur from the information Juniper had provided me with.
“If I experienced something that I hadn’t read or seen online, my health coach provided me tips and information on what was happening, which I really liked.
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
“I never felt worried about the side effects I was experiencing.
“I was aware of the [potential] sulphur burps, so when they started, I wasn’t panicked.”
Hannah was a size 24 when she started taking Mounjaro and “unbelievably unhappy” with how she looked.
She said: “I’ve always been focused on body confidence and not being ashamed of how I looked, but so many more external factors started to nag in my head.
“I had lower back pain, and regardless of so many scans and doctors appointments to find a root cause, it all fell down to my weight, and the deterioration of my muscles not being able to support my weight.
“It was a really big shock to the system.
“I went on the holiday with my mum and I don’t have any photos of myself enjoying it, because I hated having photos taken – I still regret that, but my body confidence was shot and my mental health with it too.”
She eased her way into the medication, starting on a low dose and building up – and has seen incredible results.
Despite any strange side effects, Hannah says it has all been well worth it.
She said: “Thankfully I didn’t experience the really bad side effects that some people experience, such as sickness, which I’m grateful for – but I think that even if I did, I would still recommend it.
“I actually recommended it to my partner, and he started taking the medication and has successfully lost weight, and he’s experienced absolutely no side effects.
“I’ve lost 40cm off of my waist and feel amazing now.
“I constantly take photographs of myself and send them to my mum to show her how good I look in my new outfits.
“I also just booked a beach holiday so I can wear a bikini and get great photos of myself and how much I’ve lost.
“I’m not ashamed to look in the mirror, or try on clothes in a shop [anymore].
“But it has been a learning curve, no longer seeing myself in a big body and shrouding myself in large clothes to hide myself.
“I still find it challenging to wear fitted clothes, but when I do, people notice and compliment me and it makes me feel amazing – and worth all the money I spent and the side effects I experienced.”
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
New season. New friends. New possibilities.
