Overview
- Pamela Phillips paid about £170 a month for Saxenda in early 2022 and lost roughly three stone within months after cravings eased.
- She stopped the injections because the cost became unsustainable and regained the weight over the next few months, later reporting a failed restart of the drug.
- Surgeons said her weight made urgent back surgery too risky, so in May 2023 she paid about £10,500 for a gastric sleeve at a private clinic and lost to around 11st.
- Three years after the private surgery Pamela says she has maintained the loss through smaller portions and lifestyle changes and credits the operation rather than the jabs.
- Recent research in the British Medical Journal shows many patients regain weight after stopping GLP‑1 drugs, which raises questions about long‑term treatment duration, out‑of‑pocket cost, and NHS access to lasting care.