Olufunmilayo Akinlolu says her weight gain changed her from a bubbly and outgoing person to a ‘shell’ of her former self
A mum whose pregnancy weight gain left her “barely leaving the house” has become the first in the UK to get the new Wegovy pill in an in-person service. Olufunmilayo Akinlolu, from London, completed a full clinical assessment with Superdrug Online Doctor to access the service.
She then visited the Strand branch to take advantage of the face-to-face support available at Superdrug pharmacies. The 34-year-old is now hoping the medication will help her with her weight loss journey.
Olufunmilayo, known as Funmi, is the first patient to access Superdrug’s new oral weight loss service. Over the years she had tried many other routes to shed the weight which she found was having a major impact on her life.
She explained: “After having my son, I really struggled. I barely left the house. It’s not always obvious in photos, but in person I felt so uncomfortable being seen. Breastfeeding helped a bit, but I wasn’t consistently active during that time, and the weight just piled on.”
For Funmi, the impact went beyond the physical. The mother-of-two, who is a content creator, said: “The weight had a ripple effect on everything.
“I’ve always been outgoing and bubbly, but I went into my shell. Even getting downstairs became difficult.
“I wanted to take this step to see if I could be more outgoing again, for me, and for my son. He wants to go out and play, and I want to be able to do that with him.”
Her advice to anyone considering accessing the service is to be honest with themselves first. She advised: “Ask yourself: who are you doing this for? There were things I physically couldn’t do because of my weight, and I knew I needed help.
“There’s so much taboo around this. It’s not laziness. You never know what someone is going through.”
Superdrug said Fumi was a UK first when she accessed the new oral weight loss service. This marks a significant milestone in the rollout of Superdrug’s oral weight loss service, which launched online last week “as the cheapest and most comprehensive offering of its kind” on the UK high street, with prices starting from £79 for new patients.
Craig Watt, Pharmacy Director at Superdrug, welcomed the milestone saying: “Seeing our first patient access the service in person is a huge step for weight management. Our new oral weight loss service gives patients more choice and flexibility than ever before.
“At Superdrug, convenience and accessibility are at the heart of what we do. With more than 160 Superdrug pharmacies and 85 nurse-led clinics across the UK alongside Superdrug Online Doctor, patients can access expert support either digitally or face-to-face in their local community. It’s our combination of nationwide support and clinical expertise that makes Superdrug the most accessible and expert-led healthcare provider on the high street.”
Patients using the service are required to complete a full clinical assessment with a prescriber to assess suitability. Superdrug Health & Beautycard holders accessing the service also earn 5x points on their consultation, worth up to £15.
The oral weight loss service can be accessed via the Superdrug Online Doctor website. Alternatively, speak to a local Superdrug pharmacy team for more information.
