'I was at stroke risk after my cholesterol soared - one change halved it in 90 days'

'I was at stroke risk after my cholesterol soared - one change halved it in 90 days' Emma Skeates was turned down for weight loss jabs but then found a natural way to clear the food noise and transform her health A menopause expert has told how she was left fighting "relentless hunger" and dangerously high cholesterol levels after starting a new medication. Emma Skeates had no idea of the cause behind her sudden weight gain but when she found it was also affecting her cholesterol she knew she had to act. The 58-year-old author and menopause advocate from West Sussex says she discovered the medication she had been prescribed to help her during a mental health crisis was prone to causing weight gain after it dramatically altered her appetite and metabolism. Despite gaining almost three stone and seeing her cholesterol soar to an "extremely high" 9.2, Emma says she was unable to access GLP-1 weight-loss medications through either the NHS or a private provider, leaving her feeling frustrated and unsure where to turn for weight loss support. Today, after finding what she describes as a natural weight-loss supplement and making lifestyle changes, Emma has reduced her waistline by 4 inches and lowered her cholesterol from 9.2 to 4.9 in just 3 months, moving her from "stroke risk" territory back into the healthy range. Emma, who lives with her husband in West Sussex and is well known for her work supporting women through menopause, says the weight gain came as a complete shock. Having previously managed her weight through regular exercise and healthy eating, she first experienced significant weight gain after undergoing a full hysterectomy aged 44, which triggered an immediate surgical menopause. However, she says nothing prepared her for what happened last year. Following years of caring responsibilities after losing her mother and becoming the primary carer for her elderly father, Emma experienced what she describes as a severe and unexpected mental health breakdown. In March, she woke up "struggling to breathe and unable to properly see through one eye". She says:"My anxiety had been building gradually, but I genuinely didn't see the breakdown coming." Following an emergency psychiatric assessment, Emma was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression and prescribed medication including Quetiapine. She says: "The medication absolutely saved my mental health. I will always be grateful for that because I was in a very dark place." But within a matter of months, Emma began noticing dramatic changes in her appetite. "The hunger was relentless," she recalls. "This wasn't normal hunger. I felt hungry all the time and if I didn't eat, I actually felt quite unwell. "I was constantly craving sugary foods and carbohydrates because they seemed to settle the nausea. I found myself eating things I wouldn't normally touch and snacking far more often than ever before." As the months passed, Emma says the weight piled on. By the start of this year, she had gained almost three stones. "I was buying bigger clothes, all the weight had settled around my middle and I felt permanently tired," she explains. "It genuinely felt as though my body had become a fat-storing machine." Concerned about the rapid changes, Emma booked an appointment with her GP. The results came as a huge shock. She says: "My doctor explained that Quetiapine is well known for increasing appetite and causing weight gain, but what really frightened me was my cholesterol result. It came back at 9.2." Emma's level was almost twice the usual target. While cholesterol levels below 5.0 are generally considered healthy, levels above 7.8 fall into the "extremely high" category. Emma explains: "I have never had a cholesterol problem in my life, so seeing a number that high genuinely terrified me. I knew it wasn't just about my weight anymore. This was about my long-term health." Determined to take action, Emma began researching ways to improve her health and quickly became interested in GLP-1 weight-loss medications. "Like many people, I had heard about the success people were having with GLP-1s and I genuinely felt like I was exactly the sort of person they were designed to help," she says. "My weight gain had been caused by medication. My cholesterol was through the roof. I was doing everything I could to improve my health." However, Emma soon discovered that rules at that time meant she was unable to access treatment. "My GP told me I wasn't eligible because I didn't have diabetes," she explains. "So I looked at private providers instead, only to be told that my BMI wasn't high enough. I remember feeling completely gutted. "On one hand I was being told my cholesterol was dangerously high and that I needed to lose weight, but on the other hand I couldn't access the treatment that everybody seemed to be talking about." With options running out, Emma came across DR.VEGAN's Weight Management Support formula. She says: "I had used DR.VEGAN supplements before and trusted the brand, so I decided to give it a try alongside the changes I was already making." Within days, Emma says she began noticing a difference. She says: "The first thing I noticed was that I wasn't constantly thinking about food anymore. The intense food noise and hunger started to ease and I no longer felt as though I needed to eat every couple of hours." Combined with a high-fibre, low-GI diet and daily walks, Emma says the changes quickly began to show. She says: "Within a couple of months I had lost a stone and more than four inches from my waist. "I could fit back into my favourite jeans and, more importantly, I felt healthier and more energetic." But she says the biggest moment came when she checked her cholesterol levels again. She says: "We used a home testing kit and I honestly couldn't believe the result. My cholesterol had fallen from 9.2 to 4.9." Having previously fallen into the "extremely high" category, Emma's new result placed her back within the healthy range. "That was the moment I realised I'd taken back control of my health," she says. Today, Emma says she feels healthier than she has in years and is optimistic about the future. she explains: "The biggest victory isn't the weight I've lost. It's knowing that I've dramatically improved my health and reduced a risk factor that genuinely frightened me." Reflecting on her experience, Emma hopes her story will encourage others who may feel stuck between wanting support and being unable to access weight-loss medications. "I know there are so many people who either don't qualify for GLP-1 medications or simply don't want to take them," she says. "I was one of them." "What I've learned is that there isn't just one route to improving your health. Three months ago, I felt frightened, frustrated and completely stuck. Today I feel healthier, more energetic and back in control of my future." Ella Kaur, a qualified nutritionist and member of the Professional Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, as well as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner at DR.VEGAN, explains that what makes Weight Management Support different is that it doesn't rely on a single approach to weight management. She says: "Its core ingredient, Metabolaid®, a blend of lemon verbena and hibiscus extracts, has been studied in eight clinical trials and works across several biological pathways associated with weight management. "Research suggests it can help activate AMPK, often described as the body's metabolic 'master switch', which supports fat oxidation, energy expenditure and thermogenesis, encouraging the body to use stored fat for energy. At the same time, it may help regulate appetite by increasing GLP-1, a hormone linked to feelings of fullness, while reducing levels of ghrelin, the hormone that drives hunger. "The formula also combines Metabolaid® with green tea extract and chromium to provide broader metabolic support. Green tea catechins have been shown to increase energy expenditure and encourage the body to use fat as a fuel source, while chromium contributes to normal blood glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, helping to reduce blood sugar fluctuations that can contribute to cravings. "What's particularly interesting is that clinical studies on Metabolaid® have demonstrated benefits beyond the scales, including reductions in body weight, BMI and waist circumference, alongside improvements in markers such as LDL cholesterol and the gut microbiome. Weight Management Support was therefore designed to support appetite control, energy metabolism and healthy blood sugar balance simultaneously, alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle."