A mom has faced harsh criticism after admitting to having put her 176kg 13-year-old daughter on the popular weight loss jab, Mounjaro.
The weight loss drug comes in the form of a pen, which users jab into themselves - although unlike others, one schoolgirl has her mom administering the injection for her.
While Mounjaro has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in the US, it has in the UK - where the mother-daughter duo are from.
However, it is only authorised for the treatment of adults; still, the mom defends putting the teen on it.
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"We’ve tried everything to get *Hayley’s weight down. Diets don’t work, she exercises but it never changes her weight and she’s miserable about her size compared to her friends," *Emma explained to the Metro.
Hayley is characterized as being a 5ft 4in and weighs 176 pounds - which is up to 81 pounds more than what Google claims the average 13-year-old girl of the same height weighs.
Emma went on to detail how Hayley has experienced problems with her weight for some time, before making the bold decision to illegally prescribe her Mounjaro.
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"Our GP [general practitioner] always suggested diet and exercise, but that hasn’t been that helpful at all. Mounjaro is a last resort, yes, but it’s working and she’s already lost almost a stone," she continued.
"Hayley was so low about her weight for years. She’d cry and get upset that she couldn’t buy or wear the same clothes as her friends because of her weight. That’s changing now.
"I’m losing the sullen, quiet, sad teenager and she’s growing in confidence, that’s the only measure I need that I’m doing the right thing.
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"While I love how happy she is, I don’t like that it’s tied to her body image but then she’s not alone in that – we all feel more confident when we look good."
Emma did concede that Hayley's new found confidence and self-esteem are a result of her weight loss, but points out that she has never brought up her weight during conversation and that she makes sure to praise her 'for other things outside of her appearance'.
She also claims to having probed Mounjaro carefully before duping the online chemist, admitting that she 'had to pretend they were for me'.
Speaking to the publication, Hayley herself added: "It was my idea and I asked Mum if we could look into it. I was a bit worried about being injected and I couldn’t do it myself but I love the fact I’m losing weight.
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"My friends have all noticed and are complimenting me on it which feels really nice."
While Emma doesn't see anything wrong with her actions, psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan has been left horrified by the fact that a mom would illegally supply their underage daughter with weight loss drugs.
She told the Metro: "When considering pharmacological interventions, it is crucial that these are closely monitored by doctors and delivered on a case-by-case basis.
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"Children are still developing physically and emotionally, and any medication must be used with great caution. Identity formation during childhood and adolescence is deeply tied to body image and self-worth.
"Introducing weight loss injections could inadvertently reinforce harmful beliefs about food and body image, leading to long-term issues with self-esteem and disordered eating patterns."
Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, told LADbible Group: "In the UK, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is only authorised for the treatment of adults. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by regulated pharmacies and providers."
Joe Yates