Mother Saves Weight but Faces Higher Energy Bills After Mounjaro

A mother from Aintree, Liverpool, has shared her experience of significant weight loss thanks to the medication Mounjaro, but she now faces higher energy costs as a result. Emilly Murray, 35, lost an impressive 7 stone (approximately 44.5 kilograms) in less than a year, dropping from a size 22 to a size 6-8. While she celebrates her transformation, she reports that the side effects have led to an increase in her monthly energy bills by £70, leaving her feeling perpetually cold.

Emilly’s weight loss journey involved taking Mounjaro, a medication known for helping with obesity. However, the treatment has come with the side effect dubbed “MJ Freeze” on social media platforms like TikTok. This phenomenon describes the chilling sensation experienced by many users following substantial weight loss. Emilly now keeps her heating on at 22 degrees Celsius for over six hours a day, while also layering up in clothes to combat the cold. Her monthly energy bill has skyrocketed from £85 to £155.

In a candid statement, Emilly expressed her conflicting feelings about her new reality: “I love being seven stone lighter – but it has come with an unwanted side effect. This winter I haven’t felt my toes or fingers once. It doesn’t feel like when you are cold normally.” She described her efforts to stay warm, which include wearing a dressing gown, heated gloves, and using a hot water bottle.

Despite the financial burden and discomfort, Emilly emphasizes the benefits of losing weight. She now finds it easier to engage in activities with her three children, including running and climbing stairs without becoming short of breath. However, the cold sensation complicates her daily life. “Every time I have to take my boy to school on a Friday, I have to put on thermals under my normal pants,” she noted, highlighting the extent of her layering.

Emilly attributes the cold sensation to her reduced caloric intake after losing weight. She explains, “I think it’s from the lack of eating. Our bodies are used to eating a high amount, so your body has a lot less energy to burn for heat.” She insists that her experience is not unique, stating, “I have not met a single person on Mounjaro who hasn’t had MJ Freeze.”

Despite the discomfort, Emilly is resolute in her choice to continue using Mounjaro. “I decided to go on them because at my heaviest I was over 22 stone. I lost weight on my own, but I was struggling,” she said. Emilly had previously lost weight through diet alone but found it difficult to manage cravings. After starting Mounjaro, she found relief from what she described as “food noise,” allowing her to take control of her eating habits once again.

Dietitian Sioned Quirke provided insights into the experience of coldness reported by Mounjaro users. “There is no robust clinical trial evidence that GLP-1 drugs directly cause people to feel cold as a pharmacological side effect,” she explained. However, she noted that metabolic changes following weight loss may explain these sensations. Quirke elaborated that significant weight loss often reduces subcutaneous fat that provides insulation. Additionally, lower caloric intake diminishes heat production as the body adapts to conserve energy.

In conclusion, while Emilly Murray celebrates her remarkable weight loss, she faces unexpected challenges related to increased energy costs and persistent cold sensations. Her experience sheds light on the complexities of weight management and the realities that come with significant lifestyle changes. As she navigates these adjustments, Emilly remains committed to her health journey, viewing the higher heating bills as a necessary trade-off for her well-being.