Life-changing 72kg weight loss down to new drugs that stimulate insulin production, Pakistani father says
A year ago, Pakistani father of two Sarosh Sohail was plagued by ill health caused by obesity as he struggled to shift weight from his 163kg frame.
Mr Sohail suffered from high blood pressure and cholesterol, sleep apnoea and Type 2 diabetes. He struggled to balance his health with family life and a career in TV production.
After trying a batch of medications to help weight loss for diabetics, he has never looked back and is now 72kg lighter.
Mr Sohail now hopes more people with serious weight problems can benefit from changes to the way expensive drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic are prescribed.
“I had to fight with my health insurers to get Mounjaro approved because they said it was for cosmetic purposes, rather than health benefits,” said Mr Sohail, who has lived in Dubai for a decade.
“The reality is, it has been life changing. As soon as I started on Mounjaro, my craving for food just stopped. Initially the weight loss was really nice, about eight to 10kg in the first month.
“Then, of course, it reduced to 4kg to 5kg a month. My weight now is between 91kg and 93kg.
“Initially, because I was obese, the insurance covered the cost of medication – but only until October when my weight got down to about 100kg.
“Since then I have had to pay for it myself, which is about Dh1,750 ($476) a month for four injections.”
The health problems associated with his obesity have all but disappeared, and he is also more patient with his family. “My portion sizes have really gone down,” he said. “I could easily finish two 200g steaks at a time. Now, I can hardly finish one, and have gone from three meals a day to two. I used to see food and crave for it. Now I don’t feel hungry at all.”
The drugs – known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists – not only improve blood sugar control but can also lead to weight loss.
The medication mimics the action of the GLP-1 hormone.
As someone eats, blood sugars rise so the drug stimulates insulin production to lower those levels, which helps control Type 2 diabetes.
Although not entirely clear on how GLP-1 drugs lead to weight loss, doctors do know it curbs hunger and slows the movement of food through the body, making you feel full faster and for longer.
Semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy, is registered for weight loss in the UAE, rather than Ozempic, which is registered for Type 2 diabetes, while tirzepatide is used under the brand name Mounjaro. It is prescribed for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
Dr Bart van Wagensveld, a bariatric surgeon and obesity expert in the weight management unit at NMC Royal in Khalifa City, said the new drugs have revolutionised the way medics tackle obesity.
“Bariatric surgery is the longest standing treatment, with excellent results and it’s a safe treatment,” he said. “But with the new medication, we now have a new weapon.” Ozempic costs about Dh1,700 a month, or Dh20,000 for a year. Bariatric surgery costs between Dh25,000 and Dh30,000.