Labour MP Carolyn Harris Reports Significant Weight Loss with Mounjaro Amid Concerns Over Unregulated Market
Labour MP for Neath and Swansea East Carolyn Harris reportedly lost nearly 10 stone after taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, dropping from a size 24 to 10 with the weight loss beginning in October 2024. Harris had struggled with mobility issues and sought private treatment after finding it difficult to walk in her constituency. A pivotal moment came when she was out walking around a Swansea lake for International Menopause Day.
Harris urged others to use regulated channels for health reasons, specifically obtaining prescriptions via a GP with proper medical checks. She also highlighted the relentless online criticism she faced regarding her appearance, underscoring the pressures public figures encounter on social media.
The National Pharmacy Association has flagged a surge in demand for weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Ozempic. There are growing concerns about people obtaining these medications from beauty salons or through social media, which bypass proper medical oversight. In England, prescribers of weight-loss injections must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). However, in Wales, only doctors are required to register with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), while other professionals are not legally obligated to meet the same standards. This regulatory gap raises concerns about an unsafe and unregulated market.
The Welsh government emphasized that weight-loss treatments such as Mounjaro are prescription-only and should be obtained from registered and appropriately trained healthcare professionals. They advised that purchases should come from reputable suppliers like registered pharmacies, warning that medicines from unregulated sources pose a risk.
