Renowned nutritionists warn that people who use GLP-1 type weight loss injections may risk serious vitamin C deficiency, up to and including the development of scurvy - a disease historically associated with sailors of past centuries.
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C and was once common among sailors who spent months at sea without fresh fruit and vegetables. Today, although it was considered almost extinct in Britain during the 20th century, cases have increased by around 25 percent since 2007, largely due to poor diets and malnutrition.
Why is it associated with “fat jabs”?
Weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and similar drugs work by significantly reducing appetite. This helps patients lose weight and manage diabetes, but it can also lead to severely restricted food intake and a lack of essential nutrients.
A review of existing studies, led by Australian professor Clare Collins, noted that many clinical trials of these drugs have not adequately monitored diet and food intake during treatment. As a result, some patients have ended up functionally malnourished, developing severe vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin C.
"Weight loss doesn't automatically mean a person is well-nourished or healthy," Collins points out, adding that nutrition is often overshadowed in the evaluation of these therapies.
The case of Robbie Williams
One of the most famous cases is that of singer Robbie Williams, who revealed that he was diagnosed with scurvy after drastically reducing his food intake while taking a weight loss medication. He admitted that he had stopped eating normally and ended up with a severe vitamin C deficiency.
Symptoms and risks
Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen, which keeps skin, bones, ligaments, blood vessels, and muscles healthy. Without it, the body cannot heal properly.
Typical symptoms of scurvy include:
fatigue and weakness,
severe pain in the ankles or feet,
swollen and bleeding gums,
light bruising,
anemia,
dry skin and brittle hair.
In severe cases, the disease can be life-threatening.
A wider problem
The data shows that between the beginning of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, around 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used weight-loss drugs. In parallel, in 2022, more than 800 hospital admissions were recorded in England and Wales for conditions related to poor nutrition, including scurvy and rickets (vitamin D deficiency).
Experts link the return of these "Victorian" diseases to the rising cost of living, poor diets with few fruits and vegetables, and declining attention to public health.
How is it prevented?
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, red and chili peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and potatoes. Health authorities recommend regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet.
Experts emphasize that people who use weight loss drugs should be monitored by a doctor not only for weight, but also for nutritional status, to avoid serious consequences from vitamin deficiencies. /GazetaExpress/
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