FOR Hope Lancaster Colquhoun, her perfect smile had always been a source of pride – so it was a moment of pure horror when she looked in the mirror to see two rows of broken teeth.
The mum was forced to have at least seven teeth yanked out by dentists after a weight loss jab allegedly caused them to snap in half – and that wasn’t her only shocking side effect.
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Hope, 42, who had dreamed of losing weight not teeth, also saw her stomach sag into a “bulldog’s face” after taking Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of weight loss injections.
Yet despite her excess skin and cracked teeth – which have left her needing dentures for life – she insists the prescription-only so-called ‘fat jab’ has saved her life.
She has shed an incredible nine stone, and dropped seven dress sizes.
“The weight just slipped off me, but sadly, so did my teeth,” Hope told Sun Health, recalling her most terrifying side effect of Mounjaro, which is increasingly popular across the nation.
“My gnashers before were perfect and I was really proud of my natural smile. I never had any dental work and kept up with my oral hygiene more than most people I knew.
“But one day, I noticed they felt different.
“As I ran my tongue against the top of my mouth, I noticed a sharp, jagged edge.
“I looked in the mirror and was left horrified as not one, but multiple, of my teeth had completely snapped in half.”
Hope’s stomach dropped at her reflection.
“I wondered what on Earth was happening to me,” said the content creator, who lives in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. “In a panic, I called my husband, who rushed me to the doctor’s.”
There, Hope – once cruelly called a “whale” by a stranger because of her size – says she was told the damage was likely down to having lost so much weight in such a short timeframe.
“I tried to cry, but the pain in my mouth was too much to take,” she added.
“While I had lost weight, I had also lost such an important part of me.”
Hope’s dentist later told her at least seven of her teeth had to be immediately pulled out.
“I sat in the chair, feeling sick to my stomach, as they yanked my natural teeth away,” she said.
“I knew they weren’t going to hold on for much longer, but it didn’t make the situation any less unbearable.
“I came back home that day, unable to speak, and sat staring at my calendar filling up with more dental appointments.”
‘ISOLATING’
Hope had turned to Mounjaro – used for weight management and to treat diabetes in adults – after a years-long battle with her weight had rendered her “a complete shell” of herself.
At her heaviest, she weighed more than 18 stone. Wearing size 22 clothes, Hope lived in fear of being stared at and judged by others – including at her own sister’s wedding.
“On my sister’s wedding day, I felt defeated,” admitted Hope, originally from Texas, US.
“While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because, at that point, my looks didn’t matter. I was just the ‘bigger one’ in the background. I dreaded walking down the aisle, as I knew people would look at me and judge how heavy I was.
“I’ve always been made fun of. Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it, ‘Whales shouldn’t be put in clothes.’
“Even to this day, I struggle with wearing shorts in public out of fear my photo might get taken again. People have nicknamed me ‘marshmallow’. It’s been isolating.”
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.
Feeling “deeply self-conscious”, Hope eventually confined herself to home.
“I didn’t leave the house except for groceries or to pick up my kids from school,” she told us.
“Scrolling on social media or watching TV became quite tough.
“There was a constant reminder that I should be thin.
“If I wanted to be accepted, or partake in certain trends, I had to lose weight.
The weight just slipped off me, but sadly, so did my teeth
“I was a complete shell of myself, with no social life, happiness or motivation.
“Not only that, my health was suffering, too.”
Back then, Hope would eat McDonald’s for breakfast, followed by leftovers from the previous night for lunch. For dinner, she’d have a carbohydrate-heavy meal, such as pasta and chips.
Though she tried to lose weight naturally – including going to the gym, having consultations with a dietitian and using other weight loss medications – she had little-to-no success.
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As well as the devastating impact on her mental health and social life, Hope says she suffered from months of unexplained illness and frequent fainting episodes.
She ended up being raced to hospital with “dangerously high” blood sugar levels.
It was after Hope was diagnosed with diabetes that her doctor suggested Mounjaro – which studies have indicated could, if prescribed widely, slash heart attack and cancer rates.
Hope was prescribed the jab by Oushk Pharmacy for £189 a month to help her manage her condition. And the effects, she says, were “life-changing”.
“I found myself craving healthier foods, drinking more water and just overall more active,” said Hope, who now wears size eight clothes and feels like a “new person”.
“Within a month, I noticed I wasn’t feeling so depressed either. I reversed any health issues and was able to come off my medication as I didn’t need it anymore.
“My diabetes is now excellently controlled – and considering I was on the brink of death with it, I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide, works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer.
This week, The Sun revealed that Health Secretary Wes Streeting wants the NHS to “get with the times” and speed up its roll-out of “game-changing” weight loss jabs.
What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro
IF you’re losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it’s important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here’s what you can do:
Evaluate Your Caloric Intake
Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you’re losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try:
- Tracking your food intake to ensure you’re eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help).
- Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight).
- Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy.
Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor’s Approval)
If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may:
- Pause dose increases or lower your dosage.
- Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss.
Strength Training & Exercise
To prevent muscle loss:
- Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week.
- Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga.
Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes
- Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst).
- Electrolytes matter – Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued.
Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies
Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience:
- Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements.
Consider Further Medical Guidance
If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider.
They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss.
Tirzepatide – which can be prescribed privately in the UK – has been approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NHS England is rolling out the medication, starting with the highest-priority patients — 220,000 over three years.
But Mr Streeting said: “I want to see us put our foot down on the accelerator.
“We need to get with the times and make sure those who might not be able to afford these drugs are able to access them.”
Some 1.5million Brits used weight loss injections in March.
But Hope’s experience of shedding the pounds wasn’t all positive.
“During the weight loss, at one point, I compared my stomach to a bulldog’s face [due to the excess skin],” she told us. “But over time, my skin has shrunk.”
She is also facing a lifetime of dentures after her teeth snapped.
Following the removal of her broken gnashers, Hope had a partial denture fitted. “[This] made me feel like a granny, though at least I could smile through the pain again,” she said.
LIFETIME OF DENTURES
She has since had four fillings and spent over £3,700 on fixing her teeth.
And more work is needed in the future.
But despite her turmoil, Hope doesn’t regret her decision to inject Mounjaro one bit.
“I’d encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it’s been for me,” said Hope, who, as well as taking Mounjaro, switched up her diet to include lots of fruit and vegetables, healthy protein such as lean chicken, and at least five litres of water.
She also joined a gym, and stayed active by chasing her sister’s spider monkeys around the house.
“Even my sister and mum both take it now.
“Weight loss journeys are hard and all of our stories are different.
“This isn’t the easy way out, as some might say, as we still have to make healthy food choices, stay active and prioritise our health.
“For those of us with multiple conditions, such as myself, it’s been a lifeline.
“I credit Mounjaro for giving me another chance at life.”
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On April 17, 2024, Hope tied the knot – and the mum had “never felt more beautiful”.
“I’ve completely got my life and confidence back,” said Hope, who has suffered from other – minor – side effects including regular burping, diarrhoea and headaches.
“My family are completely overjoyed by my transformation. They’ve watched me struggle for years, but now they’re so proud of the person I’ve become.
“People have said I’m cheating or [are] commenting that I’ve lost too much weight. But none of them told me to stop eating when I was slowly killing myself being obese.”
She added: “I feel like a totally new person. I can’t believe it.
“It’s like I’ve found the answer I’ve been searching for my whole life.”
The Sun has contacted Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, for a comment.
It said: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority, and we take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously.
“Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data to ensure the latest information is available for regulators and prescribers.
“We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.”
HOPE’S DIET BREAKDOWN
BEFORE:
BREAKFAST: Cereal or McDonald’s Breakfast
LUNCH: Sandwich or leftovers from the night before
DINNER: Pasta dishes, salads, chips, rice with meat and sauces
SNACK: Pudding, Dr Pepper, crisps, chocolate
AFTER:
BREAKFAST: Yoghurt with pomegranate, blueberries and granola
LUNCH: Salad or chicken skewers with vegetables
DINNER: Meal-prepped chicken or chicken sausages with sweet potatoes, rice and vegetables
SNACK: 5L of water
