Hanna Longstaff, founder of the MFB Method and widely recognised as The Eating Behaviour Expert, is urging the UK to slow its rush towards weight-loss injections and instead consider the emotional and psychological roots of overeating.
With around 13% of American adults now using medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, the UK is following suit — driven by viral social media posts, celebrity testimonials and the allure of fast weight loss. But Longstaff sees worrying signs that the rush to medicate is overshadowing the real problem.
“These drugs may suppress appetite, but they don’t address the real reasons why people overeat,” said Longstaff, whose MFB Method combines neuroscience and behavioural coaching to treat the core issues driving disordered eating.
“Many believe their weight is the problem – when in reality, it’s a symptom of a deeper unmet emotional need, they are trying to fill with food. Until the root cause is addressed, no jab, medication or crash-diet will offer a lasting solution. It’s time to talk about the cravings, coping and confidence-gaps that medication alone cannot fix.”
Longstaff cautions that while the appeal of quick results is understandable, these jabs often provide only temporary relief — and worse, they may foster dependency. Weight frequently returns once the medication ends, and users are often left without the tools to maintain change.
“It’s not sustainable, and it was never meant to be,” she added. “These medications weren’t designed for lifelong use in otherwise healthy people. If we don’t fix the underlying patterns, the weight — and the emotional struggle — will keep coming back.”
There’s also a growing list of physical side effects: stomach issues, tiredness, mood dips, muscle deterioration and even kidney concerns — many of which Longstaff highlights as being particularly harmful to women’s long-term health.
“We’re seeing people lose lean muscle, which compromises metabolic health and increases frailty. It’s not just about being lighter — it’s about being well.”
From a healthcare standpoint, the cost of the trend could soon become unmanageable. While individuals turn to online clinics or private prescriptions, the NHS may end up bearing the brunt of treating adverse outcomes. International reports from 2024 flagged hospitalisations and fatalities potentially linked to these medications — although causal links are still being reviewed.
“It’s a ticking time bomb,” Longstaff warned. “The long-term impact — both personal and societal — is being massively underestimated.”
Longstaff believes the obsession with instant results reflects broader cultural habits. “We’ve trained our brains to crave fast solutions — whether it’s weight loss, food delivery, or scrolling for dopamine. But true change takes time. We must stop chasing shortcuts and start listening to what our bodies and behaviours are trying to tell us.”
Her call is for a wholesale shift to therapeutic, whole-person approaches. The MFB Method offers an alternative — a blend of behavioural science, self-awareness, and compassion that aims to make food freedom a reality.
“Weight loss should be the side effect of healing — not the goal,” she said. “Until we start treating the cause rather than the symptom, we will continue to see people caught in this cycle of despair and dependency. There is a better way, but we have to be willing to look deeper.”
To explore her method and resources, visit www.mindfoodbodycoach.com.
