Dangerous rise of Ozempic mummy makeover: Experts warn against trend for new mothers using weight loss jabs to shed baby weight

New mothers were today warned against taking weight loss jabs after giving birth in a bid to shed their baby weight. 

The drugs — including Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy — have been hailed as a monumental breakthrough in the war on obesity.

But a concerning new trend has seen postpartum women boasting online of losing more than 20lbs on the injections just weeks after giving birth.

Others have admitted to sharing the drugs with other mothers ‘at the school gate’ in order get into pre-baby jeans.

Experts however, warned the trend posed a ‘real danger’ to new Mums and urged women against using the medication while breastfeeding. 

Charlotte Griffiths, who has a BMI of just 21.7 — the lower end of the ‘normal’ range — warned of the dangers of using the jab postpartum after accidentally taking an overdose of Wegovy with a friend. Pictured with her son James

One of Ms Griffiths friends told her there were pharmacists who could be sweet-talked into handing over a prescription 

On Instagram, influencer Holly Connolly also shared how she used Mounjaro to ‘feel better in [her] appearance’ after welcoming her daughter Cici in March 2023

It is feared the medication could be passed to their newborns risking yet unknown complications. 

Professor Alex Miras, an expert in endocrinology at Ulster University told MailOnline: ‘These medications are not a quick fix for anyone and must only be used long term by people who live with obesity and its complications. 

‘They should never be used for cosmetic reasons only or by new mums if they are breastfeeding.

‘Theoretically, when breastfeeding, the medication could be passed to the child.’

Concerningly, however, experts do not yet know ‘what the possible side effects are because we have zero data to inform us’ he added.

‘Like any medication, for any disease, medical monitoring and supervision is vital.’

It comes as one mum-of-three, who has a BMI of just 21.7 — the lower end of the ‘normal’ range —  warned of the dangers of using the jab postpartum after accidentally taking an overdose of Wegovy with a friend. 

London-based journalist Charlotte Griffiths, told MailOnline they offered to share the prescription-only jab as a ‘fun experiment’. 

Yet, it was only after she was left with ‘savage’ brain fog, migraine symptoms and was ‘violently sick’ three times, she realised she’d taken four times the recommended starting dose. 

She added: ‘Weight-loss jabs like Wegovy have been a hot topic of conversation at my children’s school gates in west London for months – who is using it, what it’s like and, crucially, how to get it. 

‘Women get together when they want to lose a few pounds, maybe a few weeks before a holiday, without the faff of diet and exercise, by having a go on “The Pen”, as it’s known.’

Under NHS guidelines, the jabs should be offered only to people who have a BMI of at least 30 and one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. 

Yet one of Ms Griffiths friends told her there were pharmacists who could be sweet-talked into handing over a prescription. 

Others had gone to private doctors, while some had managed to get it from online pharmacies by lying about their weight.

In an Instagram story which also promoted the company she purchased the jabs from, the mum-of-one, said: ‘I feel fantastic in every aspect of my life’ 

She said: ‘I appreciate this is not for everyone, however, this is a highly reputable company that I trust implicitly, I would never share anything I did not have a positive experience with’

Under NHS guidelines, the jabs should be offered only to people who have a BMI of at least 30 and one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes

On Instagram, influencer Holly Connolly also shared how she used Mounjaro to ‘feel better in [her] appearance’ after welcoming her daughter Cici in March 2023. 

In an Instagram story which also promoted the company she purchased the jabs from, the mum-of-one, said: ‘I feel fantastic in every aspect of my life. 

‘It has been a long, dark, lonely road entering motherhood but I have come out stronger and sassier.

‘I appreciate this is not for everyone, however, this is a highly reputable company that I trust implicitly, I would never share anything I did not have a positive experience with.’

She was responding to a follower who had thanked her for talking about Mounjaro and said: ‘I was feeling really low in myself after putting on 60lbs in my pregnancy and I was so desperate to be back in size 10 jeans.

‘When I saw you had used it I felt more confident using something like that to help me.

‘I’m now only 20lbs away from my goal weight which was smaller than I started with.’ 

And the phenomenon has become so common that forum users are also sharing their experiences of trying the jabs to shed weight. 

In one Reddit group with over 99,000 members, one said: ‘I’m four months post partum and three weeks on Ozempic. 

‘My weight would not budge, and I gained 70 lbs while pregnant — despite having severe hyperemesis gravidarum, I got the worst of both world lol.’ 

They added: ‘I am very happy with it and think it’s great for the real challenging parts of postpartum life.

‘I’ve already lost some weight in the first few weeks, it’s great to see the scale moving again.’ 

Another said: ‘I started about 8 weeks after my second baby was born. 

‘So far it’s been smooth sailing and I’m 16 pounds down.’

In a separate thread titled ‘Ozempic for postpartum weight loss’, one user wrote: ‘I gained 40lbs, lost 20 in the six months after birth, and couldn’t lose the last 20 for the life of me no matter what I did. 

‘I’m on week seven and down 16 pounds.’

Yet experts today urged woman never to feel rushed to ‘bounce back’ after having a baby warning they could be putting their own health at risk.

Huddersfield-based aesthetics practitioner and former NHS nurse, Jen Vittanuova, told MailOnline: ‘I absolutely understand the pressure many new mums feel to ‘bounce back’ after having a baby. 

‘But postpartum is a time for healing, not rushing to lose weight. 

‘Weight-loss injections may seem like a quick fix, but they pose real risks – disrupting hormones, impacting blood sugar, and causing dehydration. 

‘For new mothers needing stable energy and mood, these side effects can be especially harmful.

‘Giving yourself time and space as your body heals is necessary, it’s a gradual journey.’

Professor Nerys Astbury, an expert in diet and obesity at the University of Oxford, also told MailOnline: ‘Breastfeeding also uses a lot of energy, and trying to lose weight at the same time may impact milk supply and quality — and could also impact new mum’s nutritional health. 

She added: ‘Taking unprescribed medications including weight loss jabs purchased online carries a risk.

‘If obtained online, patients doctors will not be aware and this could have significant implications when treating any side effects they may experience.’

Pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, semaglutide manufacturer, also advises women to stop taking the weight loss drugs at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

Research on rats, rabbits and monkeys has shown the weight loss medications could result in miscarriage and birth defects if taken while pregnant. 

According to the latest data digestive problems were the most commonly reported side effects of tirzepatide, the active ingredient of Mounjaro. These included about one in five participants suffering from nausea and diarrhoea, and about one in 10 reporting vomiting or diarrhoea

The injections trick the brain into thinking it’s full, consequently slashing appetite and stopping users from overeating.

But like any medication, the jabs can have known side effects that vary in both frequency and severity, including nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, stomach pain, headaches and dizziness. 

Some patients have also suffered hair loss while on them.

The UK’s medicines watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also announced 46 Brits had been hospitalised with ‘gastrointestinal reactions’ relating to the jabs, as of August 16. 

Fake versions too, sold for up to £280 a pack have left patients fighting for their lives in comas.

Last week Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the Government planned to offer weight loss jabs to the unemployed in a bid to get them in shape and back to work. 

But yesterday he issued a joint alert with UK drug regulators amid growing concerns the ‘serious medication’ is being abused by people wanting to shed pounds for cosmetic reasons.

The health secretary said the injections should only be used by obese people who have failed to shift weight through diet and exercise not those looking to ‘get a body-beautiful picture for Instagram’.