Robbie Williams issues health warning after suffering concerning 'side effect' from weight loss jab
Robbie Williams has claimed that weight loss jabs may be related to the deterioration of his vision.
The 'Angels' artist said that he has noticed a decline in his eyesight after taking Mounjaro.
Williams, 51, said that he's even struggled to see people's faces during emotional moments in his shows, while also urging people to 'research properly' before starting to take GLP-1 drugs of their own.
These types of medication were originally made for those with diabetes, and work by mimicking the actions of GLP-1, a hormone in the brain which makes you feel full, regulating appetite.
Advert
It has led A-list celebrities to try the drugs in attempts to lose weight, with GLP-1 drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy now approved to be used for weight loss in the UK.
Despite Williams' claims, health professionals have highlighted that any links between eyesight issues and weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro are still not fully understood and rare, with more studies looking into it.
Nevertheless, Williams has said his eyesight issues have severely impacted his life.
Speaking to The Sun, Williams said that he realised he couldn't see individual players at an American football game, instead seeing 'blobs on a green field in front of me', leading to him getting prescribed new glasses.
"I was quite an early adapter of the jabs but what I'm also noticing is that my eyesight's not very good," the Brit said, adding: "It's been blurry for a while now, and it's only getting worse.
"I don't believe it's age; I believe it's the jabs."
While touring recently, Williams said he could barely see the person he performed 'She's The One' to, which he usually does for a fan at each show.
"Basically, I was looking in the direction of these women looking up at me, having this experience that's quite obviously incredible to them, and little do they know I can't see them," Williams said.
In the past, he also spoke about the jab's positive effects on his mental health struggles, claiming that the relief he felt from 'constant mental anguish' has been massive, admitting to The Times that he's 'been diagnosed with type 2 self-loathing', adding: "My inner voice talks to me like Katie Hopkins talks about fat people. It's maddening."
Similar to the likes of Meghan Trainor, he has incorporated several lifestyle changes in along with the GLP-1 jab, such as daily workouts and strength training.
Is there a link between Mounjaro and eyesight issues?
Williams' claims may not be medically proved yet, but physicians have admitted recently that a small percentage of adults on weight loss jabs have experienced vision loss, though there is still no proven link with the condition and the drugs.
The study in question only looked at nine patients, aged between 37 and 77, taking either semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) or tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro).
Seven of them suffered a stroke of the optic nerve, an essential part of someone's vision, which can result in partial vision loss which is normally permanent. Another had inflammation of the optic nerve head and did not lose their vision, while the ninth had a stroke of the retina.
Speaking to Medical NewsToday, Howard Krauss, MD, spoke about the study, saying: "The proposed mechanisms of ‘injury’ put forward by the authors are worthy of investigation.
“Frequent - at least annual - eye exams for those with underlying diseases which carry risk of adverse ocular sequelae, even in the absence of ocular or visual symptoms, are to be recommended.”
He speculated that a rapid decease in the body's blood sugar from the jabs could cause 'swelling in the optic nerve'.
An Eli Lilly spokesperson told LADbible: "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. We take any report involving patient safety seriously, and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines, including Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which is being used to help millions of patients around the world.
"If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking a Lilly medicine, they should consult their doctor or other healthcare professional."
Topics: Robbie Williams, Mounjaro, Health
Joshua Nair