The cost of the weight loss injection Mounjaro, medically known as tirzepatide, is projected to significantly increase, rising from under £200 to over £300 per month starting in September. This impending price surge threatens to initiate a 'cost of slimming crisis,' potentially forcing individuals to incur debt to continue their prescriptions.

Mounjaro functions by suppressing appetite, promoting a prolonged feeling of fullness. It is currently licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and those who are clinically obese, defined by a Body Mass Index of 30 or over. A single injection is administered weekly, with the overall duration of treatment dependent on an individual's weight.

However, Mounjaro and similar weight loss drugs have been associated with severe health risks. Last year, Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose Mounjaro injections. Investigations have also revealed nearly 400 hospital admissions due to complications from weight loss drugs, with reported side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, leading to severe dehydration. Doctors have also observed 'life-threatening complications' such as seizures, bowel obstruction, and inflammation of the pancreas. Model Lottie Moss, 27, also reported experiencing a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic, another weight loss drug. Lilly UK, the makers of Mounjaro, has emphasized that patient safety is their 'top priority' and that they continuously monitor, evaluate, and report safety data, advising users to consult their doctors about side effects.

Amidst these concerns, individuals are exploring natural and less costly alternatives for weight management. One TikTok user, known as @biffgoudiebkup, shared her remarkable transformation from a size 20 to a size 12 without relying on Mounjaro. She attributed her success to 'fruit fasting,' a regimen involving the exclusive consumption of fruit for several days. This method is believed to aid weight loss due to fruits like watermelon and apple being lower in calories and higher in water content. Beyond weight reduction, the TikToker claimed additional benefits, including improved digestion, reduced bloating, and even better sleep, stating, 'Slept like a baby last night, first time in years I've had a full 12 hours. Could this fasting be healing insomnia? I think so.'

While fruit consumption offers numerous health benefits, experts caution against extreme fruit-only diets. Ashley Simper, manager of Dietetic Services with OSF HealthCare, warned that a sudden increase in fiber, as seen in an all-fruit diet, can have the opposite effect on digestion, potentially leading to bloating, abdominal cramping, and pain, rather than reducing it. She advises a slow, gradual increase in fiber intake along with adequate fluid consumption, recommending eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Regarding sleep, while fruit fasting itself hasn't been directly linked to improved sleep, certain fruits like kiwis, tart cherries, and pineapples have been reported to enhance sleep quality.

Another proponent of natural weight management is Gina Drewalowski, a content creator who promotes healthy living without resorting to medications like Ozempic. Gina emphasizes a philosophy of 'spreading positivity,' embracing 'ageing as our super power,' and 'nourishing your body with love – not restriction.' She advocates for proper fueling of the body through exercise and nutritious meals, acknowledging that 'not every day is a flat-tummy day – and that’s perfectly okay.'

Gina shared three specific, protein-packed recipes that support her slim physique. For breakfast, her 'towel of scrambled eggs' consists of one slice of whole grain bread, three eggs, 50g of cherry tomatoes, and two slices of smoked turkey breast, totaling 348 calories with 27g of protein. Her lunch, a salmon and avocado 'power' bread, features wholegrain bread topped with mashed avocado, two mashed boiled eggs, cucumber, gravlax, and fresh cress, providing 420 calories with 26g of protein. For dinner, she whips up a healthier version of sweet and sour beef wok, combining beef tenderloin with carrots, bell peppers, pineapple, spinach, garlic, ginger, coconut oil, and an optional serving of rice, all dressed in a soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and orange juice sauce. This dinner, with rice, amounts to around 480 calories, offering 35g of protein. Gina stresses that these are 'feel-good ideas' meant to be adapted to individual lifestyles and needs, reinforcing that 'strong feels good.'