Trying an Anti-Obesity Medication Changed My Life

as told to Jacqueline Froeber

When my sister turned 13, I bought her a ring that said, “I hope you dance.”

I cried the first time I heard that. song. The lyrics said everything I wanted for my sister. I want him to be confident and strong. I want you to take risks and live without regrets.

I want her to dance.

This idea resonated with me because I always wanted the same thing for myself. As a woman living with obesity, I have worked hard, very hard, to feel confident in my skin and love myself. But when I turned 40, the weight started to feel different.

One night I was getting ready to go out with my husband and our friends and I started dancing to the song “Work Bitch” by Britany Spears. Before I could say, “You look sexy in a tankini,” I was sweating and removing my makeup. I was so out of breath that I had to sit down. Sitting on the edge of the bed, with sweat pooling in my cleavage, I realized that my body was no longer functioning like it did when I was in my 20s and 30s. Before I could sing and jump. Now I couldn’t get to the chorus.

Panic began to rise up my neck and I did my best to push away the realization. But I didn’t push too hard. I needed to remember not to dance. Not in public. Maybe never again. And that sparked a concern within me.

A few weeks later, I went to my doctor for a routine visit. He very casually asked me if I wanted to try a new weight loss medication. He explained that the medication would help my stomach digest food more slowly and also signal to my brain that I was full.

At the time, I had heard some rumors about celebrities taking weight loss drugs, but anti-obesity drugs (AOM) were not a household name back then.

To be honest, it sounded too good to be true, but I was up for it. I’ve tried many fad diets and weight loss programs over the years in an effort to get healthier. I knew the extra weight wasn’t good for me; I knew it wasn’t good for anyone. But when nothing really helped, I had to move on and accept that I was living in a bigger body. And that was good.

But as I left the office with the prescription, I felt the uneasiness return to my chest. Maybe this was the change I needed.

The next day my insurance company called me and told me they would not cover the medication. My heart sank. I felt like a fool, a completely devastated fool. The distant voice went on to say that I could, however, buy it without insurance for about what I pay on my mortgage each month.

And that was that. I hung up and cried. I cursed myself for feeling like something could change. I cursed myself for thinking I should change. I cursed myself for telling my husband. Now we were both stuck on this roller coaster.

Like everyone else on the planet, I turned to TikTok to distract myself. I was only a few steps away when I saw it: a coupon for medication. It was real? I did a quick calculation and if the discount was legit and there was more than one coupon, I could afford it. I called my doctor, confirmed the coupons were real, and started taking the medication that night.

Jessi in her hometown of Fenton, Michigan (2024)

It felt like Christmas morning when I woke up the next day. I was excited and nervous to see what the day would bring. I didn’t feel bad in any way, so it was fine. I continued with my morning and forgot about the OMA until I made a breakfast sandwich. After eating about half of the sandwich, I realized I didn’t want to eat anymore. “That’s weird,” I thought. Then it hit me: the medication worked. I felt full and satisfied. I wasn’t hungry. Another bonus: I also had lunch. I wrapped the rest of the sandwich and took it to work.

That was the first day I started to realize how much of my time revolved around food. I am someone who is excited about food and trying new foods and restaurants. But looking back, I was always thinking about food and/or planning to eat. I never stopped. My husband once told me that he doesn’t think about food constantly like I do. I didn’t really understand what that meant until I started taking AOM. Don’t get me wrong, I still get excited about food, but now it’s more of an occasion than an obsession.

Every day I wake up grateful for the medication. But I know that not all people living with obesity have access to an AOM. Without the coupons, she may never have been able to receive the treatment she needed.

I have been taking OMA for over a year and have lost a significant amount of weight. The other day I asked my husband what has changed the most in me since I started taking it. He said I dance more. Of course, it was a nice response: I love my husband, but it was a dagger to my heart. It was sad to realize that I spent a lot of time without dancing or moving because my body wouldn’t allow it. I think it’s hard for people who don’t live with obesity to understand that there may be things you physically can’t do even if you want to. That’s why I’m so grateful for the medication. It has given me the opportunity to turn that restlessness into rhythm. Now I dance all the time.

I hope you dance too.

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This educational resource was created with the support ofm Eli Lilly and Company, member of the Corporate Advisory Board.

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