EXCLUSIVE: The Only Way Is Essex legend Gemma Collins has opened up about her life-changing weight loss injections – but has called out ‘skinny people’ for taking the drugs off those who really need it
Gemma Collins has always been candid about her weight struggles, often documenting her ups and downs with various diets and fitness regimes. But recently, the former TOWIE star, 44, revealed something more personal – her exhausting battle with ‘food noise’, which is the constant, intrusive thoughts about eating.
Food noise affects thousands of people who describe the experience as persistent, intrusive thoughts about eating – what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, and how to control cravings. It’s not simple hunger, it’s a mental loop that can run all day, hijacking focus, energy, and peace of mind.
It’s especially common in people with a history of dieting, emotional eating, or disordered eating habits – all of which Gemma has suffered with in the past. However, the reality TV icon has now revealed that she has finally found some quiet in her mind – and she’s never felt better.
Injectable medications such as Mounjaro work by mimicking a hormone that affects appetite regulation in the brain. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, they’ve now been licensed for weight loss in the UK and beyond, helping users feel full for longer and quieting the mental noise around food.
Speaking out about using the weight loss and diabetes medication Mounjaro, Gemma shared that for the first time in years, she feels in control and confident. “I feel amazing,” she said, crediting the treatment with not just physical changes, but mental relief too.
“I’ve gone from a size 26 to a size 20, and I’ve never felt better. Mounjaro is unbelievable and it’s changed my whole life. I think it’s a life-changing drug. Being able to pick up a size 20 top in M&S, put it on in the changing rooms and just get on with my day, is just such a life-changing experience for me honestly,” Gemma gushed about her newfound self-confidence.
Gemma then went on to share her distaste for the individuals who are using the weight loss injections who are already thin and not overweight. The TOWIE icon, who has battled with her weight for years, says those people who are using the jabs simply for a quick fix into shedding a few pounds are taking away from those who desperately need them.
“I really don’t agree with already slim people taking it, that’s just not right at all, and it’s not what it’s for. It’s for overweight people and it breaks my heart when there’s people on the NHS who can’t access it and it’s such a shame because everyone deserves not to struggle with their weight and you would only understand if you had a weight problem and how difficult it is. I know how it is.”
When asked how she feels about the people who desperately want to go on the drug but are afraid of the side-effects, Gemma insisted that she couldn’t recommend it enough – because she feels like a completely different person since being on it.
“Don’t be scared or anxious – do it! You can’t just buy them backstreet – there’s so many people selling them dangerously and on the backstreet market. You have to go with a proper company and it will seriously change your life. It has been the biggest success for me. I have so much energy. I just feel good and I’m not obsessed with looking too thin.
“I feel a lot more confident – I mean I have always felt confident – but genuinely more confident in myself. I’m not panicking thinking ‘Oh what can I wear’. I can go into so many more shops now, it feels beautiful. It’s a massive weight off my shoulders.
“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, I know myself that I’m losing the weight and I feel so much healthier. They really are a wonder-drug and if anyone is struggling with their weight, I really do understand. I know how difficult it is. It’s always so much more than just what you eat – it has to do with your blood sugars, genetics, mental health etc. There’s nothing to be scared of as long as you don’t abuse it.”
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