MUM Sammi Hill says her life was “saved” by Mounjaro after her struggles to lose weight after pregnancy left her feeling depressed and with suicidal thoughts.
But the 33-year-old has now been forced to stop taking the popular weight loss jab due to the price hike – with 4st left to lose to reach her goal weight.
Sammi Hill weighed 18st 3lbs at her heaviest[/caption]
The mum-of-three said she put on weight after the birth of her two daughters, then struggled to shed the pounds[/caption]
Sammi’s now been left unable to afford Mounjaro following the price hike[/caption]
Mum-of-three Sammi has been left no longer able to afford Mounjaro after the price shot up by £80 at the start of September.
Mounjaro’s price increased in the UK because manufacturer, Eli Lilly, wanted to align its private market prices with international standards, specifically those in Europe and the US.
Sammi, from Mapperley, Nottingham, was always slim but gained 8st after back to back pregnancies with her daughters.
At 18st 3lbs, she then struggled to lose weight, despite trying numerous diets, and as a result, suffered with depression and suicidal thoughts.
As a “last resort”, in July 2024 she started on Mounjaro, and thanks to the £150 a month 7.5mg jabs, the beauty business owner has dropped 4st since.
But at the start of this month the price increased to £230 a month, putting it out of budget, and forcing her to stop taking the medication all together – with 4st still left to lose to reach her desired weight.
Sammi said: “I went to order more after my honeymoon and I saw the price hikes.
“So I’ve signed up for the gym and I’m going to try to do it naturally because my mindset is a lot better now.
“But the cost is ridiculous now – this is someone’s pathway to a better life and I feel grateful to have got halfway so that now I can do it on my own.
“Mounjaro saved my life and it makes me feel sad that other people won’t be able to afford that opportunity.”
Sammi was unwell and had mobility issues throughout and after the births of daughter Gracie in 2019 and Nyla in 2020.
She initially put her feelings of low mood down to postnatal depression, but three years on, in 2023, she was still struggling.
In the years since her pregnancies she had avoided mirrors and photos, become “distant” with her family.
Sammi, also mum to Theo, 11, said: “I tried diets but I struggled to stick to them and I’m not really an exercise person.
“I felt embarrassed, I didn’t want to talk to anyone and I was not present with my kids.
I think if it continued, the worst probably would have happened
Sammi Hill
“I ended up hating myself – the only thing that kept me here was my family.
“But I think if it continued, the worst probably would have happened.”
Sammi was referred to a therapist but still struggled.
She said: “I felt like everyone else looked fantastic and there was me just looking like a whale.”
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Shout (for support of all mental health) www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
Regaining her confidence
Sammi did some research before deciding to order a then-£120 starter pack of Mounjaro in July 2024.
As the weight started coming off, she began regaining confidence and she moved up the doses.
By August this year, she was 4st down and halfway back to her pre-pregnancy goal weight.
Sammi decided to take a month-long break from the jabs for her wedding and honeymoon with now-husband Adam Hill, 34.
She planned to start the jabs again to shed the remaining 4st and get down to her goal weight of 10st 6lbs – but can’t.
Sammi said: “I looked to re-start the jabs in September.
“But it had gone from £120 to £160 for a month’s supply of the starting dose of 2.5mg.
“I could still afford that, but then when I needed to up the dose further along, I wouldn’t be able to.
“A month’s supply of 7.5mg jabs, that I was on before, was £230.”
Sammi has lost 4st since she started taking Mounjaro[/caption]
The mum-of-three decided to take a break when she went on her honeymoon[/caption]
Sammi has now joined the gym after the jabs gave her the confidence to tackle weight loss alone[/caption]
Luckily for Sammi, the impact the jabs had on her in her first 11 months left her feeling confident enough to tackle it alone.
She said: “For me, I know it’s not impossible for me to lose weight alone now I know what I need to do.
“I know I need to work and it’s not just a miracle fat burning drug – although if I need help, I might try Ozempic.
“My partner and I have joined the gym and we’re going to be each other’s cheerleaders.”
She said: “People say the jabs are ‘cheating’.
“But when you’re at the point where you don’t want to get out if bed or look in the mirror, why would you diet or exercise?
“I’ve got a friend, bless her, she only did a month on Mounjaro and felt great, but she’s already coming off it because of the prices.
“It makes me feel sad people can’t get the experience that I did now.”
Are you eligible for fat jabs on the NHS?
TO be eligible for NHS weight loss injections, you typically need a high BMI (Body Mass Index) and a number of weight-related health conditions.
A BMI of 40 or more is usually required, or a BMI of 37.5 or more for certain ethnic groups.
For individuals from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds, a lower BMI of 37.5 or higher may be considered due to increased health risks at lower BMI levels within these groups.
Additionally, you must have at least three or four of the following conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Abnormal blood fats
These injections are generally provided with a structured weight management programme that includes lifestyle support.
If you’re looking to access weight loss injections on the NHS, discuss your options with your GP.