For Susan Judd, a 58-year-old from Port Macquarie in New South Wales, the struggle with her weight felt like a battle she couldn't win. Despite years of experimenting with different diets and exercise regimes, the scales kept tipping in the wrong direction. It was a journey that led her, like many Australians, to turn to the much-publicised weight-loss injections for help. What she didn't realise at the time was that losing weight so rapidly with medication could carry hidden, long-term risks.
The Search for a Solution
Susan Judd's health challenges began early. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 27, she has relied on lifelong insulin replacement. After undergoing IVF to have her two children, now 18 and 20, she entered perimenopause in her mid-40s. Her hormones shifted dramatically, her blood glucose levels became erratic, and she began accumulating body weight at an alarming rate. "It seemed like I put weight on overnight — everywhere," Judd recalled. "Even my bras wouldn't fit me properly."
She tried everything from running and at-home workouts to strict dieting, but by the time she hit 50, nothing was working. At her heaviest, she weighed 95kg, which for her 162cm frame placed her firmly in the obese category. Each visit to her endocrinologist involved a depressing step onto the scales.
A Rapid Transformation with a Cost
Three years ago, as stories about the dramatic effects of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro flooded headlines and social media, Judd saw a potential solution. After a discussion with her endocrinologist and careful checks due to her type 1 diabetes, she was cleared to try the treatment. The results were swift: she lost 10kg in a matter of months, stabilising her weight and seeing significant improvements in her overall health metrics. Her blood glucose levels, along with her liver and kidney functions, returned to perfect, normal ranges for the first time in 30 years.
However, the journey was not without severe side effects. Initially on Ozempic, she suffered constant nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting. During a 2024 family trip to Turkey, her condition escalated to the point where she needed emergency hospital treatment and was put on a drip. After returning to Australia, her doctor switched her to Mounjaro, which provided the benefits without the debilitating gastrointestinal issues.
The Missing Piece: Muscle and Movement
Despite the successful weight loss and improved health markers, Judd began to notice she had lost significant strength. She initially attributed this to menopause, which is known to decrease muscle mass due to declining oestrogen. However, new research suggests the weight-loss injections themselves could be a major contributing factor.
Research from Deakin University warns that rapid weight loss without accompanying strength-based exercise can lead to serious long-term consequences, particularly for older people. The risks include a dangerous loss of lean muscle mass, strength, and bone density. Australia's peak physical activity body, AUSactive, emphasises that structured exercise is not optional for people using these medications; it is critical for protecting muscles, supporting bone health, and reducing future health risks.
"I'm definitely not as strong as I used to be," Judd admitted. Now, she is far more mindful of her physical activity. She practises Tai Chi several times a week for its mental health benefits and has incorporated strength training into her routine to rebuild what was lost.
A National Warning
As the use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs surges across Australia, experts are issuing a clear warning. AUSactive CEO Ken Griffin stated that for users of these medications, "a fitness professional should be as familiar as their GP or pharmacist." The organisation backs the World Health Organisation's position that exercise must sit alongside medication from the start, not come as an afterthought. "Exercise isn't optional," Griffin said. "It's the safety net that protects muscle, protects bones, supports metabolism and prevents future hospitalisations."
For Susan Judd, author of 'Hot, Foggy & Fabulous', the medication has been life-changing, and she expects to remain on Mounjaro long-term. But her message to others considering the same path is unequivocal: the injections are a tool, not a shortcut. "You can't fix one thing and ignore everything else," she said. "You still have to look after your body." Her story stands as a powerful reminder that sustainable health requires a balanced approach, combining medical intervention with dedicated physical movement.
