Thoughts and Feelings on the Effects of Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) on Lipoedema. Interview with Zoe, Lipoedema Patient Advocate and Plus Size Fashion Model

Prior to taking Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®), Zoe was at peace with how her body looked and so for her, though weight loss has occurred what was important was the difference the drug has made to how her lipoedema FEELS which is what this interview focuses on..

7 months after starting Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)

PhysioPod®: Welcome, Zoe. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us today. Could you start by telling us a little bit about your journey with lipoedema and perhaps touch upon some factors you felt were important in managing it before considering new treatments?

Zoe: Well, lipoedema is quite complex, and I've found that stress and trauma play an important factor for me. High cortisol levels result in inflammation, which really goes alongside the pain and swelling that comes with lipoedema. I had been making a conscious effort to pay attention to my stress levels and getting myself into a really good place mentally, and I honestly could feel there was some difference happening to my body just from that.

PhysioPod®: That's insightful, highlighting the mind-body connection. What led you to look into Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as a potential option for your lipoedema management?

Zoe: I started to see people in the lipoedema community talking about it, and I was definitely intrigued. The active substance, tirzepatide, was being discussed as having positive effects on people with chronic illnesses such as PCOS, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on.

PhysioPod®: And before starting Mounjaro, what were your considerations or perhaps concerns, and what factors made you decide to proceed?

Zoe: I did my research, of course, and while there were many positive stories, there were also many negative stories about it, which is understandable. I decided to think, "why not?". At that point, I was in a good place mentally, my relationship with food was great, and my feelings about my body were good. I also made a clear rule for myself that if I was to become ill, I would stop.

PhysioPod®: It sounds like you approached the decision very thoughtfully. How long have you been taking Mounjaro now, and could you clarify what your primary goal is in using it?

Zoe: I have now been taking Mounjaro for seven months. I want to be clear that I'm not using it as a weight loss medication; this is purely for my lipoedema, and honestly, it has been outstanding for me.

PhysioPod®: That's a significant statement. Could you describe the physical changes you've observed in your body since starting it?

Zoe: My body has always been inflamed, which meant it was solid, firm, and hard. Now? Well, now it is as squishy as dough. It is soft, it is saggy.  It is getting some used to adjusting to how my body now feels, how different the lipoedema looks and feels too, but I would rather this than be in as much pain 

PhysioPod®: Beyond those visual and textural changes, what impact has Mounjaro had on your symptoms, particularly pain?

Zoe: The pain has reduced significantly, which is absolutely the most important part for me. I've gone from feeling like I was slowly starting to set in concrete, where each step was becoming heavier than the last. Now, I'm wibbly wobbling my way down the path, and I'm really enjoying this feeling of new.

PhysioPod®: That sounds like a dramatic improvement in your daily experience. Have these physical changes affected your daily life or mobility in any unexpected ways?

Zoe: Oh, definitely! I've actually nearly taken myself out a fair few times when stepping into the bath, forgetting my legs aren't as heavy anymore.

PhysioPod®: That's quite a vivid illustration of the change! You mentioned seeing changes; could you specify which areas of your body have shown reduction?

Zoe: Based on photos and just how things feel, my thighs have reduced, as have my upper arms, my wrist cuffs, and my cankles a touch.

PhysioPod®: GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro can be a topic of discussion within the chronic illness community. What are your thoughts on this, based on your personal experience?

Zoe: Everyone has their own opinions on this GPL-1 medication, and rightly so. Not everyone will agree on topics like this, but for me, the change has been profound.

PhysioPod®: Looking ahead, what are your long-term plans for managing your lipoedema, and how does your current experience with tirzepatide fit into that?

Zoe: Surgery is still always the end goal for me. But for now, tirzepatide is definitely working wonders.

PhysioPod®: Zoe, thank you so much for sharing your personal journey and insights with us today. It's been very informative.

Update: 5 Months Later

PhysioPod®: Zoe, could you tell us about what initially led you to explore surgical options for lipoedema?

Zoe: Well, about a year ago today, I reached out to a surgeon. I emailed him with some photos of my body and asked if he could provide a quote for lipoedema removal surgery.

PhysioPod®: And what was the surgeon's response to that inquiry?

Zoe: He advised me to consider bariatric surgery instead. He explained that because I already have excess skin, the amount of surgeries required wouldn't be safe for him to perform.

PhysioPod®: Had weight loss surgery been on your radar before this?

Zoe: Yes, absolutely. Weight loss surgery is something I've thought about for a while, and I'm actually on the list to be seen for it. However, it wasn't something I was actively considering at that specific time. I do think it's a wonderful tool, and it might be something I use in the future.

PhysioPod®: So, given the surgeon's feedback, what direction did you decide to pursue next?

Zoe: By the time I received the surgeon's reply, I had actually already been researching GPL1 medication. I was looking into the effect it was having for people with inflammatory conditions, and that ultimately gave me the final push to try this option.

PhysioPod®: You recently took some new comparison photos. What prompted you to do that?

Zoe: Seeing the photos from a year ago pop up on my phone today, coupled with some comments I've been receiving on a video I made, made me decide to retake them. People were asking what the difference was in the video, even though the differences are written on it, and the video is really about much more than just my physical appearance. I wanted to see just how significant a physical difference the GPL1 medication has had on my body and lipoedema.

PhysioPod®: How does the experience of losing weight or seeing changes with GPL1 compare to previous attempts you've made?

Zoe: It's quite different. When I've lost weight previously, even when I did it in a very unhealthy way, the texture of my legs barely changed, and neither did the heaviness of them.

PhysioPod®: Can you describe your current approach and the changes you've observed?

Zoe: This time around, using a GPL1, alongside other things like compression therapy, movement, stress management, being in a safe environment, and lowering carbs, has really altered the inflammation in my body. I can feel all the lipoedema under my skin, and importantly, the pain has decreased. Appearance-wise, I've gone from feeling quite robust to feeling soft, which is also something I'm still getting used to.

PhysioPod®: Finally, GPL1 are often presented in the media primarily as weight loss drugs. Based on your experience, what's your view on that perception?

Zoe: I think it's important to note that GPL1s are still often spoken about in the news as weight loss medications. However, I believe they are actually so much more than that. People who have chronic illnesses are seeing many benefits from them.

PhysioPod®: Thank you so much Zoe

Zoe: You are very welcome, I hope this helps others in their very personal journey.

About Zoe

Zoe is a vibrant young mother living with Stage Three Lipoedema, a chronic medical condition that significantly affects her quality of life. Zoe as a body-positive blogger at thickthighs.positivethighs. Zoe has openly shared the challenges of living with lipoedema, including the impact on her mobility, such as the need to lift her legs to get into her car. She has sought treatment but was denied liposuction on the NHS, as the procedure was deemed 'cosmetic'. The condition is described as cruel and unrelenting; despite losing seven stone, Zoe's arms continued to grow. She has also made the difficult personal decision not to have more children because pregnancy hormones worsen the condition, a point she raised without success in an appeal to her MP. Zoe is very open about her condition and how she deals with it, acknowledging that it greatly affects her mental health.

Further Reading

Metabolic Therapy for Lipedema: Can Tirzepatide Overcome the Treatment Gap?