For Qundeel, food once felt like a trap. “My hunger was at dangerous levels. The more I’d eat. The hungrier I’d get.” It was a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break. After nearly a year on the weight loss drug, she credits it for saving her life. “It saved my life. I knew I was going to die if I didn’t do something about my weight”.
Before starting the medication, everyday tasks were a struggle.
“I couldn’t walk ten minutes without panting for breath. Now, I can walk up a flight of stairs. I don’t take lifts or escalators anymore. The health complications I had because of my obesity are gone”.
But the treatment hasn’t been without its challenges.
“The side effects are not easy. I’ve gone through the worst nausea. But in a way that worked for me. I needed to be pulled away from my obsession with food.”
Ozempic didn’t just curb Qundeel’s appetite. It reshaped her entire relationship with food.
“It was more of a psychological thing for me, but with this medication, my body knows when to stop eating. I can eat a bowl of fruit and be just as satisfied as I would’ve been from a Big Mac meal. Ozempic helped me. It helped ingrain healthier food habits in me as well”.
Cracking the Code of Hunger: Why These Drugs Work When Diets Don’t
Professor Lora Heisler, Director of Research at the Rowett Institute, who is currently leading a three-year study to reduce side effects, and make these medications more accessible. Believes the true power of these drugs lies in their ability to control hunger.
“Our body is programmed to make it hard to shift weight. Lots of hunger signals, which are hard to ignore. The drugs seem to reduce hunger. Making you feel full faster, with less food. Dampening hunger signals. Which is what makes dieting so difficult.”
Prof. Marcus Reddy, a leading Consultant Surgeon with the NHS, reinforces Heisler’s view. Highlighting the major role genetics play in weight management.
“Most people have a set point, and when they are obese, they have a set point in their weight that ultimately drives them to be heavier. These could be seen as historical genes effectively which have always encouraged us to have a higher appetite. Which is what makes hunger extremely difficult to control for a lot of people.”
Redefining Obesity: From Stigma to Science
Professors Lora Heisler and Marcus Reddy highlight a growing shift in how the medical field treats obesity, as these medications prove to be more effective than diet and lifestyle changes alone.
For people like Qundeel, who attributes her health transformation to Ozempic, this shift is deeply personal. Her story reflects the real-life impact of science-led treatment in a space long shaped by stigma.
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Standfirst
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Headline‘I’ve got my life back’: One woman’s story with Ozempic
Short Headline'It saved my life': One woman’s life changing journey on Ozempic
StandfirstOne Londoner, Qundeel, talks to City News about the life changing impact these medications can have.
For Qundeel, food once felt like a trap. “My hunger was at dangerous levels. The more I’d eat. The hungrier I’d get.” It was a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break. After nearly a year on the weight loss drug, she credits it for saving her life. “It saved my life. I knew I was going to die if I didn’t do something about my weight”.
Before starting the medication, everyday tasks were a struggle.
“I couldn’t walk ten minutes without panting for breath. Now, I can walk up a flight of stairs. I don’t take lifts or escalators anymore. The health complications I had because of my obesity are gone”.
But the treatment hasn’t been without its challenges.
“The side effects are not easy. I’ve gone through the worst nausea. But in a way that worked for me. I needed to be pulled away from my obsession with food.”
Ozempic didn’t just curb Qundeel’s appetite. It reshaped her entire relationship with food.
“It was more of a psychological thing for me, but with this medication, my body knows when to stop eating. I can eat a bowl of fruit and be just as satisfied as I would’ve been from a Big Mac meal. Ozempic helped me. It helped ingrain healthier food habits in me as well”.
Cracking the Code of Hunger: Why These Drugs Work When Diets Don’t
Professor Lora Heisler, Director of Research at the Rowett Institute, who is currently leading a three-year study to reduce side effects, and make these medications more accessible. Believes the true power of these drugs lies in their ability to control hunger.
“Our body is programmed to make it hard to shift weight. Lots of hunger signals, which are hard to ignore. The drugs seem to reduce hunger. Making you feel full faster, with less food. Dampening hunger signals. Which is what makes dieting so difficult.”
Prof. Marcus Reddy, a leading Consultant Surgeon with the NHS, reinforces Heisler’s view. Highlighting the major role genetics play in weight management.
“Most people have a set point, and when they are obese, they have a set point in their weight that ultimately drives them to be heavier. These could be seen as historical genes effectively which have always encouraged us to have a higher appetite. Which is what makes hunger extremely difficult to control for a lot of people.”
Redefining Obesity: From Stigma to Science
Professors Lora Heisler and Marcus Reddy highlight a growing shift in how the medical field treats obesity, as these medications prove to be more effective than diet and lifestyle changes alone.
For people like Qundeel, who attributes her health transformation to Ozempic, this shift is deeply personal. Her story reflects the real-life impact of science-led treatment in a space long shaped by stigma.
