My journey with binge eating and slimming injections
When Sugar Stops Being Comfort and Becomes Control
For most of my life, sugar was my drug of choice. When people talk about addiction, they usually think about alcohol or drugs, but addiction can take many forms. For some people, it is shopping, gambling or even exercise. For me, it was sugar. Sweets, cakes, ice cream — anything sweet. It gave me a moment of comfort and pleasure, but afterwards came the guilt and the feeling of having completely lost control.
Over time, that habit turned into binge eating. Many people assume binge eating is simply a lack of willpower or greed, but it is not like that at all. It becomes a cycle that is very difficult to break. Food, especially sugar, can give a temporary emotional lift, and before you realise it, you are trapped in a pattern that feels almost impossible to stop.
The Hidden Reality of Binge Eating
For me, the binges were often secret. I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night when the house was quiet and everyone else was asleep, creeping into the kitchen almost automatically. It felt less like a decision and more like a compulsion. I could consume thousands of calories in a single sitting — packets of sweets, biscuits, chocolate, anything sugary within reach. Afterwards, I would feel physically exhausted, slipping into what people often call a “food coma”, heavy with sugar and shame.
The secrecy became part of the routine
I would throw away the sweet wrappers and empty packets when no one was looking, hoping no one would notice how much I had eaten. In the moment, it felt like relief, but afterwards came the familiar spiral of guilt, embarrassment and frustration with myself.
At its most extreme, binge eating can be life-threatening. In rare but severe cases, the stomach can become so overstretched that it ruptures, which can be fatal. Binge eating can also put enormous strain on the heart and may trigger serious cardiac complications. Some people who binge eat may attempt to purge afterwards by vomiting or using other methods to try to undo the binge. This behaviour overlaps with bulimia and is also extremely dangerous, causing serious damage to the digestive system, heart, teeth and overall health.
Eating Disorders are not uncommon
Eating disorders are not abstract problems that happen to other people. They can destroy lives. My friend and bridesmaid, Nikki Grahame, who many people remember from the television programme Big Brother, tragically died after a long struggle with anorexia. At the time of her death, Nikki weighed less than 30 kg.
Her death was a heartbreaking reminder of how serious eating disorders are and how devastating their consequences can be.
I love this photo of Nikki entertaining the audience at my wedding. Nikki also always loved to look pretty …
The Turning Point: Trying Slimming Injections
My experience began to change when I started using slimming injections such as Mounjaro, after previously trying Ozempic and Saxenda.
Mounjaro works slightly differently from many other weight-loss medications because it acts on two hormones involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). These hormones send signals between the gut and the brain that help regulate hunger, fullness and how the body processes food. By activating both pathways, the medication does more than simply reduce appetite. For many people, it also quietens what has become known as “food noise” — the constant mental chatter about eating, cravings and the next meal.
Many doctors are increasingly supportive of these types of medications because they can help with a wide range of health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and related conditions. However, it is important that they are used in the right way. These medications should always be prescribed by a qualified doctor and obtained through legitimate medical channels. As with any medication, proper medical guidance and supervision are essential.
In my personal experience, Mounjaro has been far better than the others, mainly because of the side effects. When I used Ozempic or Saxenda, I often experienced unpleasant problems such as heartburn, headaches and constant burping. It might sound amusing, but when it happens all day long, it quickly stops being funny.
With Mounjaro, I personally have not experienced those side effects, which made a huge difference. What surprised me most was not just the weight loss — it was the silence.
For the first time in years, the constant thoughts about food began to quieten.
You simply do not think about food in the same way any more. You can go for hours without feeling hungry. Of course, it is still important to eat regularly and to eat nutritious food, even if you do not feel particularly hungry.
Taking Back Control from Sugar
For someone who once felt controlled by sugar, that change feels remarkable. The cravings that used to dominate my day have faded into the background. It does not mean life is suddenly perfect, or that the journey with food is completely over. But for the first time in a very long time, food feels like fuel rather than a compulsion.
And perhaps the biggest change of all is this: sugar is no longer the thing in control.
