The meal is over and as I start carrying plates from the table to the sink to begin the washing up, a relative follows me to continue a conversation started during dinner.
She has been telling me about a dinner party she’d hosted where none of the guests ate what she cooked or drank any wine with her because they were all on GLP-1s. “I just don’t think it’s the right way to lose weight,” she says plaintively. “It can’t be good for their health”.
I keep my gaze focused on the task in front of me: ferociously scrubbing some sugar that had caramelised on the edge of a baking tray. “I don’t know,” I say weakly, as I try to round off the chat. “I think everyone is different and what might work for some might not work for others”.
I feel uncomfortable, not only because I am obese and she is naturally very thin – making me feel like the de facto spokesperson for the overweight population in this conversation – but also because I am on the drugs, as only my husband, best friend and pharmacist know.
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Caption: Sunrise Friday (10/9/26) morning at Glastonbury Tor, Somerset. Photo released 11/09/2026
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Source: Michelle Cowbourne / SWNS
weather
The weather to expect this week as UK to turn cooler
The Met Office predicts “changes are afoot” as the weather begins to feel fresher with low pressure bringing showers across the country.
Last of the summer heat
Caption: A couple walk along the promenade in Folkestone, Kent, during a shower of rain. The UK will see showers over the coming days but the rain is ???not going to solve the drought situation overnight???, a forecaster has said. Picture date: Wednesday August 19, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Photographer: Gareth Fuller
Provider: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
This week temperatures will cool significantly, with highs in most areas falling below 20°C.
Some places in the Highlands and Islands will see temperatures dip into the single digits.
Big Read
5 min read
Risk of showers and blustery wind
Cloud will build on Wednesday with scattered showers which will develop into wet weather in north west areas of the UK.
Later in the week will see “showers or longer spells of rain at times, interspersed with some drier and brighter spells”, according to the Met Office, with “strong winds at times”.
Caption: People walking along the Dawlish sea wall in Teignbridge, Devon, as weather warnings for Storm Benjamin have come into force as parts of the UK are hit by heavy downpours and strong winds. Picture date: Thursday October 23, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Photographer: Yui Mok
Provider: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: Yui Mok
Explained
2 min read
us news
US confirms it has deployed space weapons
Caption: Other fearsome images posted on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account on Sunday (6/9/26). // New Space Force uniform concepts unveiled by Donald Trump have drawn comparisons to Nazi uniforms. The US President took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday (6/9) to showcase mock-ups of a ‘Service Dress Uniform’ for the US military branch. However, the grey uniforms drew comparisons from some with those worn by Germans in World War II. Others thought they resembled outfits from the sci-fi franchises Star Trek and Star Wars. Trump’s followers left several comments giving their opinions. FreedomGranny posted: “Sorry, looks too much like NAZI storm troopers to me.” RaizenUSA1 wrote: “Looks too SS to me.”
Photo released 07/09/2026
Photographer: / SWNS
Provider: Truth Social / SWNS
Source: Truth Social / SWNS
The US Space Force has confirmed it has a weapon in orbit, the first time this has been publicly acknowledged.
It is not known what the weapon is or its capabilities.
Everything we know so far
Caption: WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 15: Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman (R), Space Force and Command Senior Enlisted Leader and CMSgt Roger Towberman (L), with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett present US President Donald Trump with the official flag of the United States Space Force in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on May 15, 2020. (Photo by Samuel Corum-Pool/Getty Images)
Photographer: Pool
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images North America
Copyright: 2020 Getty Images
The deployment of an “on orbit” weapon in space was confirmed on Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland.
A US Space Force spokesperson said: “These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.”
2 min read
Why was it launched?
The weapon is necessary to protect the US from hostile enemy action, according to US Secretary of the Air Force, Troy Meink. He added the US is ready for “evolving threats”.
Caption: FLORIDA, USA – DECEMBER 18: A view of SpaceX and U.S. Space Force compound at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States on December 18, 2021. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
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Source: Anadolu
Caption: FILE – Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink speaks during the United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium, Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, Pool, File)
Photographer: Matt Rourke
Provider: Matt Rourke/Pool AP via AP
Source: Pool AP
Copyright: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
It comes after Trump announced plans for a $175bn Golden Dome missile defence system in spring 2025. The US Space Force contends that Russia and China have already been developing their own weaponised satellites.
What has the reaction been?
China was not happy about the announcement. “We urge the US side to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space,” a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.
Dr Bleddyn Bowen, a professor of Astropolitics at Durham University, told the BBC the weapon could be “some kind of electronic warfare or radio jamming platform”, but stressed this is a guess.
Analysis
2 min read
3 min read
Ian Huntley who died in hospital after he was attacked in the workshop of the maximum security Frankland prison by an inmate with a metal bar on February 26. Issue date: Saturday March 07, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire
crime
Ian Huntley inquest remains suspended pending murder trial
The Soham killer was allegedly attacked in prison, where he was serving a minimum of 40 years for the murders of two 10-year-old girls in Cambridgeshire in 2002.
What you need to know
Ian Huntley was allegedly attacked with a metal bar in a workshop at Frankland Prison near Durham in February this year.
He was taken to hospital, where he died just over a week later.
A brief inquest hearing was held on Tuesday in Crook, County Durham.
The coroner said the proceedings would remain suspended until the conclusion of a criminal trial.
Anthony Russell, 44, has been charged with murder and has appeared in court previously.
What happens next
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said he will consider whether it is necessary to complete the inquest after the end of the criminal trial.
He said the inquest “cannot happen until we know the shape of any trial”. The inquest has been adjourned until December.
Huntley in his car before his arrest in August 2002 (Photo: Andrew Parsons/PA)
3 min read
What did Huntley do?
Huntley was jailed in 2003 for the murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, two friends who went missing after leaving a family barbecue, prompting a 13-day search.
Caption: File photo dated 16/08/02 of police officers seal off the home of caretaker Ian Huntley and his partner Maxine Carr in Soham, Camb. Soham killer Ian Huntley has died in hospital after he was attacked in the workshop of the maximum security Frankland prison by an inmate with a metal bar on February 26, the Press Association understands. Issue date: Saturday March 07, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire
Photographer: Kirsty Wigglesworth
Provider: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire
Source: PA
Caption: Undated handout file photo originally issued on 07/08/02 by Holly Wells (left) and her best friend, Jessica Chapman, both 10 and who disappeared from Soham, Cambridgeshire, pictured in their Manchester United shirts. Soham killer Ian Huntley has died in hospital after he was attacked in the workshop of the maximum security Frankland prison by an inmate with a metal bar on February 26, the Press Association understands. Issue date: Saturday March 07, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: PA
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Huntley, their school caretaker, had dumped their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away. He denied murdering the girls, but was found guilty during a trial at the Old Bailey in 2003.
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
Gratitude
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Caption: Two adult brothers enjoy a warm embrace in a sunny park. They stand beside a decorative fence surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing a strong bond and happiness in the moment.
Photographer: Beatriz Herrera
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: beatrizherreragonzalez@gmail.com
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Journal
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Caucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
‘One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,’ says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi/Getty)
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
Exercise with people you love (Photographer: Morsa Images/Getty/Digital Vision/Abel Mitj? Varela)
Caption: Group of Happy Asian senior women friends shopping and having lunch at restaurant on summer holiday vacation. Healthy elderly woman enjoy outdoor lifestyle meeting and eating food together.
Photographer: CandyRetriever
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.
Renault 5 E-Tech
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
4 min read
Mercedes-Benz CLA
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
2 min read
Porsche Macan GTS
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
Kia EV 9
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
MG IM6
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
BYD Dolphin Surf
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
Leapmotor T03
It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
The kitchen gadgets and products a food editor swears by, all under £25
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Caption: best kitchen gadgets
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
5 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Caption: Happy woman walking with male partner in vineyard during sunset. Elderly couple are touring in field against sky. They are enjoying during weekend.
Photographer: Morsa Images
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Side view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Son’t assume your partner knows how you think (Photo: ljubaphoto/Getty/E+)
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Unhappy married couple facing away from each other in a quiet home, concept of emotional distance, loneliness in relationship and family problems – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Caption: Happy couples talking while walking embraced during spring day in a meadow.
Photographer: skynesher
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Candid shot happiness and togetherness Asian mother supporting daughter try to standing and walking first time and positive emotion – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Caption: Financial problems. Worried middle-aged woman holding utility bills, managing monthly household budget, sitting on bed feeling anxious. Cost of living concept
Photographer: MementoJpeg
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
Frustrated lonely shy guy sitting apart of others teenagers – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
What to do
Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
No more orange juice. (Photo via pixaby)
It’s estimated ultra processed foods make up at least half of the average UK diet (Photo: Getty)
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Caption: Gail’s croissant
Image taken from https://gails.com/collections/breakfast/products/croissant
Croissants
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.
Caption: Toasted bread and white background
Photographer: Daniel Tamas Mehes
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: Minden jog fenntartva!
Yakitori’s on the menu at the Japanese restaurant – but what exactly is it? (Photo: Reuters)
Sushi
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Sarawak laksa is one of many varieties of this noodle soup (Photo: Tham Kee Chuan/Getty)
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Pizza
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Best pizza in Britain named – and owner reveals the secret to its success (Photo: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)
The Government has announced that the sugar tax will be extended to milkshakes (Photo: Scott Suchman)
Smoothies
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
‘Aged 14, I started what I considered to be my own little business selling confectionary,’ writes Beauty Dhlamini (Photo: Getty)
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
Which yoghurts are the best options? (Unsplash)
Caption: BANGKOK, THAILAND – OCTOBER 17: A “KT Herbalist”, a Kratom cocktail made from Kratom, coffee and siamese herbs is seen at Teens of Thailand, a bar in Bangkok’s Chinatown on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand’s third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand’s most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok’s Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand’s recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Photographer: Lauren DeCicca
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
Alcohol
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
I didn’t plan on keeping this information a secret, I just wanted a bit of space and privacy to see how I got on before inviting in an audience. It is May 2026, and this is my second time on GLP-1s (I’d previously tried in 2025 and had a spectacularly bad experience that resulted in a mental health crash). I wrote about this in an article and swore off them completely.
But after 10 months of trying to lose weight the old-school way — eat less, exercise more — which brought with it many positive changes in my health markers but precisely zero weight loss. I was exhausted and ready to try the drugs again.
Yet, I felt anxious about public opinion. More than anything else I was frankly terrified of being called a hypocrite. And so I kept my inner circle small.
Since the last attempt quite a lot had changed; my kids were a bit older, I was no longer in the postnatal period, I had had some very good therapy that better equipped me to deal with any anxious feelings that might come up and I wanted to confront my fear of taking them.
I was also so tired of living in a body that made it hard to feel comfortable. Not because of how people viewed or judged my size — I let go of that concern a long time ago — but because I was the heaviest I’d ever been and it was having an impact on my wellbeing. I had less energy, my joints hurt, I had a back injury that wasn’t getting better and also yes, I wanted my clothes to fit better.
My first and second start couldn’t have been more different. The first time, I was trying to figure it all out on my own, panicking at every side effect and unsure how to respond to my reduced appetite (and so eating nothing at all). The second time I felt empowered, confident and well-resourced, and more importantly, I started to see the results I had been pulverising myself to try to achieve for months on end with no joy.
I knew it was time to be honest about taking them to my friends and wider audience, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d be letting some people down — those who may have found my social media account in the heyday of body positivity through my writing in support of fat people.
I never set out to be a ‘fat positive writer’ or even a ‘body positive’ one — it was mostly a case of time and circumstance. In the late 2010s, in the boom of the Body Positivity era, there was huge demand from editors for writing from the perspective of women living in bigger bodies.
‘Being labelled a body-positivity writer brought a responsibility to perform a level of self-acceptance that in truth I had not reached and wasn’t sure could ever exist for me,’ writes Rose (Photo: Gavin Crilly Photography)
As someone who had been obese, lost a lot of weight and was adept at writing about the nuance of the conversation around weight, health and bodies, I was soon receiving regular commissions from national papers and magazines.
Ironically, at the time, I was the lightest I’d been for most of my adult life, although still a UK size 18 — so still not thin by many people’s standards. I’ve often wondered since then whether being smaller than I am now made me a more palatable voice for this message.
I was happy to write on this topic, fighting the pervasive narrative that only thin could mean beautiful and challenging the idea that being overweight was synonymous with unhealthy.
At no point did I reject the science of metabolic health, nor suggest loving yourself was an easy or even possible task. I came of age in the late 90s and had acquired the requisite self-hatred expected of women so knew that a few ad campaigns telling us to celebrate our differences, or the presence of bigger clothes in the shops, weren’t enough to update an internal operating system programmed to loathe itself.
Having previously described myself as a women’s health journalist, at some point I was assigned a new label: a body-positivity writer. It is a label I have wrestled with over the years, because it reclassifies my science-based journalism as advocacy. And also because at times it brought with it a responsibility to perform a level of self-acceptance that in truth I had not reached and wasn’t sure could ever reach.
It also made the notion of trying to lose weight feel more difficult to consider. The watered-down pop-culture version of body positivity painted hypocrites of anyone who wanted to change their size — including me, despite my never having advocated for people to stay heavy or vilified weight loss.
The about turn that none of us saw coming? The arrivals of GLP-1s on the mass market and the extreme pivot back to glorifying thinness. This great social shrinking handed body positivity critics the ‘gotcha’ moment they had been craving. And so, many people, who, like me, had been associated with it were carefully monitored for any whiff of hypocrisy.
Instead of achieving what we’d hoped — for our bodies to be less scrutinised and for fat people to be treated with a baseline level of respect — we were now painted as defectors for losing any weight at all.
I reject that notion outright; wanting people who struggle with their weight to be treated better doesn’t mean that I have to stay trapped within a body that makes me feel uncomfortable. And I don’t think that there is any hypocrisy in wanting to improve my own personal health outcomes while still believing that losing weight isn’t the panacea for ill health it is often painted as.
After five months back on the drugs I am finally closing in on my weight loss goal, something that didn’t look possible at the start of the year. I am certain my more positive experience this time is the result of time moving on and hormones settling, but also because there is so much more advice available now on how to take these drugs well.
I feel more positive than I have in a long time that I can find a healthier way to manage my weight that works for me in the long term and costs me less emotional space. More time and more attention to enjoy my children while they’re young feels like a gift, and one I wont squander.
A Matter of Fat launches on September 15 on all platforms