The Hidden Dangers of Weight Loss Drugs: Why Extreme Caution is Needed

In recent years, so-called “miracle” weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Ozempic have been hailed as revolutionary tools for shedding excess pounds. From celebrities to everyday people, demand has skyrocketed, driven by promises of rapid results and a slimmer figure. Yet beneath the hype lies a growing body of evidence that these medications can have devastating physical and psychological consequences, and the long-term risks remain largely unknown.

Journalist Shona Sibary recently shared her deeply troubling experience with Mounjaro. After losing 17kg in five months, she found herself spiralling into bulimia for the first time at age 54, compelled to purge after eating and existing on dangerously low calorie intakes between doses. What began as a quick fix to midlife weight gain became a trigger for a serious eating disorder, echoing warnings from experts who note that such drugs can fuel obsessive attitudes toward food and body image, particularly among middle-aged women (see Shona Sibary’s account, Daily Mail, 25th July 2025).

Sharon Osbourne’s experience with Ozempic underscores another alarming risk: extreme and persistent weight loss. The 72-year-old star admitted she now struggles to gain weight back, despite stopping the drug months ago, leaving her frail and frustrated. Doctors remain puzzled by the long-term metabolic effects, highlighting how little we know about the consequences of these medications (“Osbourne & Ozempic”).

Beyond the psychological toll and unpredictable metabolic changes, these drugs carry recognised medical risks. Side effects can range from nausea and diarrhoea to more severe complications like increased heart rate, liver damage, and pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is not only painful and potentially life-threatening in the short term; repeated bouts can lead to chronic pancreatitis, a condition strongly linked to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer.

Research shows that chronic pancreatitis can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by up to 13 times compared to the general population (Lowenfels et al., Gastroenterology, 1993; Kirkegård et al., Pancreas, 2017). The underlying mechanism is thought to involve repeated injury to pancreatic tissue, ongoing inflammation, and the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations in affected cells.

While a direct link between GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Ozempic and Mounjaro) and pancreatic cancer has not yet been definitively proven, there is well-documented evidence of acute pancreatitis in some patients taking these drugs (Egan et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2014). Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) advise that patients taking GLP-1 medications be carefully monitored for symptoms of pancreatic inflammation, and that individuals with a history of pancreatitis avoid these treatments.

While there is no denying that obesity poses real health risks and that these medications can be life-changing for those with serious medical need, for many they are being used as a shortcut—often by people who are not clinically obese and could achieve results through healthier means. The price is not just financial, but potentially the sacrifice of long-term physical and mental wellbeing.

Before reaching for an injection or pill, consider the cost: not just in pounds and pence, but in your health, your relationship with food, and the unknown risks to your body years down the line. Sustainable weight management is best achieved through balanced eating, regular activity, and supportive lifestyle changes—not a weekly jab with consequences we are only beginning to uncover.

For most, the safest and healthiest path is the slow, steady one. The promise of a quick fix may simply not be worth the peril. If you do go ahead, please bear this in mind: Analysis of 11 studies of older and newer GLP-1 weight loss drugs by the University of Oxford found that patients typically lost 8kg on weight loss jabs but returned to their original weight within 10 months of stopping them. It might not just be an expensive risk, but also a very temporary one.

Swarovski AX VISIO - When “Smart” Binoculars Get a Downgrade

Swarovski AX VISIO

The Swarovski AX Visio Smart Binoculars are promoted as cutting-edge optics — the “world’s first smart binoculars” — and their specifications reflect that status. Among the headline features is a built-in camera that, according to Swarovski’s own published technical data, captures 13‑megapixel images (4208×3120 pixels). Many early units did exactly that.

However, after updating my unit to the current firmware (v1.3.5), I discovered that every image exported via the Swarovski Outdoor App now measures only 8 MP (around 3400×2550 pixels), not the 13 MP promised in the specification.

When I queried this with Swarovski Customer Services, I was told the reduction results from a new process introduced in the firmware: every image is now automatically rotated and cropped for horizon correction. This happens whether or not there is a horizon in the frame, and there is no option to disable it. As a result, the majority of images are cropped unnecessarily, reducing image dimensions and file size by default.

This approach raises several concerns:

• The effective resolution of the camera has been downgraded below its published specification.
• Horizon correction is applied indiscriminately, with no user control. For me at least this is unnecessary, I can easily straighten an image if I need or want to.
• Swarovski has said only that an option to restore 13 MP capture “may or may not” be introduced in future updates — leaving customers without clarity.
• Owners who have not updated their firmware continue to enjoy true 13 MP output, while those who updated have effectively lost part of the performance they paid for.

In my opinion, the standard image output should remain 13 MP by default, and horizon correction should be a selectable feature, not a mandatory one. Customers also deserve a clear answer as to whether Swarovski will restore full-resolution capture in a future update.

Until that clarity is given, I would advise AX Visio owners not to update their firmware unless they are fully aware of the resolution downgrade and willing to accept it. There does not appear to be any way to reverse the process.

While my dealings with Bruce Dingwall at T4 Cameras in Swindon have been very positive — he has handled this issue fairly and professionally — Swarovski’s handling of this firmware change is disappointing. Reducing a flagship product’s performance without warning, while still advertising outdated specifications, undermines customer trust.

For a premium device aimed at serious enthusiasts, Swarovski should offer transparency, a choice, and a way for users to regain the full performance they paid for.

Updated: 7th August 2025

Following a letter to Stefan Schwarz, CEO, Swarovski Optik I this morning received a very helpful and positive communication from Katrin Kuprian, Customer Service Manager, Swarovski Optik. Based on this I am optimistic that the full 13MP functionality of this unit will be restored and I am delighted that Swarovski Optik have listened to my concerns and responded to additional customer feedback positively.

Dear Sir

My name is Katrin Kuprian, I am Customer Service Manager for SWAROVSKI OPTIK at our headquarters. Together with our Product Manager for the AX Visio and our Marketing and Sales Director, I looked at your case and the mentioned update, and I would like to personally respond to your letter.

First of all, we would like to thank you again for your detailed feedback regarding our AX Visio and the latest software update. We at SWAROVSKI OPTIK are constantly striving to further improve our products and services. Your input is therefore truly appreciated and helps us to do so.

As previously communicated, the decision to implement automatic horizon correction was based on feedback from a wide range of users. Our goal was to enhance usability and image quality across various use cases. That said, we fully understand your valid concerns about the limitations this feature may introduce in specific scenarios. We’re pleased to inform you that our development team is already working on a solution that will allow users to deactivate the horizon correction if desired. This adjustment will also restore access to the camera’s full resolution of 13 MP.

We believe this upcoming update will strike a better balance between user preferences and technical optimisation, ensuring a more flexible and satisfying experience for all users.

Thank you again for your constructive feedback and continued support. Should you have any further questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely, Katrin Kuprian Customer Service Manager

Well done Swarovski.

The Cult of Trump: Authoritarianism in Modern American Politics

Trump & Co

Across history, authoritarian leaders have shared a familiar playbook: demand unwavering loyalty, suppress dissent, rewrite facts, and construct a carefully curated public image of strength and infallibility. Observing the political movement surrounding Donald Trump, it’s increasingly hard to ignore the parallels with the dynamics of dictatorship—and even those of a cult.

Authoritarian regimes, from Stalin’s Soviet Union to Kim Jong-un’s North Korea, rely on visible and performative loyalty. Leaders surround themselves with advisers too afraid to speak honestly, lest they lose their position—or more. Trump’s presidency has shown a remarkably similar pattern. Dissent within his inner circle has routinely led to public denunciation, career destruction, or social ostracism. High-ranking officials who dared to criticise or contradict him, found themselves dismissed and vilified.

Just as dictators depend on mouthpieces to amplify the party line (Karoline Leavitt springs to mind), Trump has cultivated an ecosystem of loyal surrogates and media allies who relentlessly echo his talking points. This machine doesn’t tolerate deviation. Any Republican politician expressing even moderate criticism of Trump quickly risks being labelled a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) and targeted for primary challenges, social media abuse, or outright political excommunication.

Perhaps most striking is the emotional fervour Trump elicits from his most devoted followers. His rallies, branding, and messaging have often taken on the tone and symbolism of a movement greater than politics—a personality cult. In this space, facts matter less than belief. Even after multiple criminal indictments, public lies, and efforts to overturn the democratic process, large segments of his base remain unwavering, convinced that Trump alone speaks truth in a world of enemies and conspiracies.

Authoritarianism often hinges on undermining institutional checks and balances. Trump’s open attacks on the judiciary, the press, the intelligence services, and even the democratic process itself (especially following the 2020 election) echo the behaviour of leaders who seek to erode public trust in anything not under their direct control. His refusal to accept election results marked an unprecedented challenge to American democratic norms.

While Trump does not (and cannot) wield the full control of a dictator in the constitutional framework of the United States, the movement he leads exhibits many of the hallmarks of authoritarianism: a singular strongman leader, fear-based loyalty, truth distortion, cult-like devotion, and the undermining of democratic processes.

The warning signs are not historical abstractions; they are unfolding now. Democracies do not collapse overnight, but they can erode steadily under the weight of charismatic authoritarian populism. It is essential to recognise these patterns—not just for political debate, but for the defence of democratic principles themselves.