Bootcamp was Nothing Compared to Obesity–Military Mom Battles Obesity

(BPT) – After starting boot camp at just 17 years old, Heather embarked on a 13-year journey in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant, truck driver, and trainer of new recruits. While she began her military career at a healthy weight, maintaining it became a constant battle. Despite the challenges that came with trying to maintain her weight, Heather persevered, meeting the Army’s uncompromising standards and proving her resilience time and time again.Today, around 40% of adults in the U.S. struggle with obesity—up from about 30% compared to about two decades ago.Growing up, Heather was always larger than her peers, which hindered her from participating in certain activities—even those she enjoyed. Despite her passion for dance, the outfits often made her the subject of ridicule. Any time Heather exposed her skin or wore tight clothes, her peers would call attention to her weight. Stigma made dancing or going to the pool a particularly dreadful experience.As the years went on, Heather became more committed to losing weight. From crash diets and supplements to weightlifting and high-intensity cardio, she tried any and every intervention that promised results, but the results never lasted.”I tried walking, weightlifting, dieting, but nothing seemed to keep the weight off.”After her military career ended, Heather’s weight problems only intensified. Within a year, she had gained over 80 pounds. Public spaces became hotbeds of judgment and stigma. Negative attention was commonplace. In an airplane, a person in the neighboring seat would flash her a look that said, Oh no, I have to sit next to her?”I was constantly getting that icky energy from people who just didn’t know any better,” Heather recalls.Obesity impacted her to a point where she could no longer be as involved with her kids.She struggled with how she felt about herself, and despite being a lifelong extrovert, Heather retreated inward, avoiding social events as her weight increased.”I felt trapped and did not feel good about myself. I didn’t want my kids to only see me that way.”As Heather searched for weight loss solutions, she came to learn that obesity is a chronic disease, which can be influenced by many things such as genetic, environmental, and physiologic factors. She realized that managing excess weight is not simply a matter of willpower or personal responsibility, and often requires comprehensive care, treatment and support. Finally, Heather spoke to her doctor.After discussing multiple treatment options, they decided that Zepbound® (tirzepatide) along with diet and exercise was the best fit for her.Zepbound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Zepbound should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children.Please see below Select Safety InformationWarning: Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats, Zepbound and medicines that work like Zepbound caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Zepbound will cause thyroid tumors, or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Do not take Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).Please see below Indications and Safety Summary with Warnings for ZepboundAlong with Zepbound, Heather’s exercise routine includes hikes in the park near her house, jogs around the block, and activities with her kids. Heather loves grilling fresh veggies and lean proteins. She feels good and has a fresh outlook on life. “Zepbound was one of the important missing puzzle pieces for me,” says Heather. “Obesity was holding me back, as it does for so many others, but you don’t have to face it alone. Talking to my doctor about Zepbound, along with diet and exercise, really helped me lose weight and keep it off.”Watch Heather’s patient testimonial to learn more about Heather and her weight journey.If you’re an adult struggling with obesity, ask your doctor about Zepbound. Zepbound may be able to help you reach your weight loss goals, along with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Visit Zepbound.com to learn more.INDICATIONS AND SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS Zepbound® (ZEHP-bownd) is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with:obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity to improve their OSA.It should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children.Warnings – Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.• Do not use Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).• Do not use Zepbound if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).• Do not use Zepbound if you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in Zepbound.Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including: Severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.Kidney problems (kidney failure). Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.Gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Zepbound and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Zepbound and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or very rapid heartbeat.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Zepbound with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, hunger, weakness or feeling jittery.Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Zepbound.Depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to changes in your mood, behaviors, feelings or thoughts. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you.Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Zepbound may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Zepbound before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.Common side effects The most common side effects of Zepbound include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdominal) pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, feeling tired, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn. These are not all the possible side effects of Zepbound. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or doesn’t go away.Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. Before using Zepbound • Your healthcare provider should show you how to use Zepbound before you use it for the first time. • Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking medicines to treat diabetes including an insulin or sulfonylurea which could increase your risk of low blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar levels and how to manage them. • If you take birth control pills by mouth, talk to your healthcare provider before you use Zepbound. Birth control pills may not work as well while using Zepbound. Your healthcare provider may recommend another type of birth control for 4 weeks after you start Zepbound and for 4 weeks after each increase in your dose of Zepbound.Review these questions with your healthcare provider: Do you have other medical conditions, including problems with your pancreas or kidneys, or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food?Do you take diabetes medicines, such as insulin or sulfonylureas?Do you have a history of diabetic retinopathy?Are you scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)?Do you take any other prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements?Are you pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed? Zepbound may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while using Zepbound. It is not known if Zepbound passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using Zepbound.• Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There will be a pregnancy exposure registry for women who have taken Zepbound during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).How to takeRead the Instructions for Use that come with Zepbound.Use Zepbound exactly as your healthcare provider says.Use Zepbound with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.Zepbound is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm.Use Zepbound 1 time each week, at any time of the day.Change (rotate) your injection site with each weekly injection. Do not use the same site for each injection.If you take too much Zepbound, call your healthcare provider, seek medical advice promptly, or contact a Poison Center expert right away at 1-800-222-1222.Zepbound injection is approved as a 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg per 0.5 mL in single-dose pen or single-dose vial.Learn moreZepbound is a prescription medicine. For more information, call 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979) or go to www.zepbound.lilly.com.This summary provides basic information about Zepbound but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about Zepbound and how to take it. Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you decide if Zepbound is right for you.ZP CON BS 20DEC2024 Zepbound® and its delivery device base are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.