Teased Mercilessly for Her Weight, a Florida Teen Lost 150 Lbs. on Ozempic: ‘I Learned to Accept and Love Myself’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Shaelyn Weaver before and after her weight loss.Photo:Courtesy Shaelyn Weaver;  Allyn DiVito/Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Courtesy Shaelyn Weaver;  Allyn DiVito/Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Picked on in middle school for her size, Shaelyn Weaver would often eat lunch in a teacher’s classroom or even forego eating altogether until she came home.

“Doing all that didn’t help,” says Weaver, who weighed nearly 300 lbs. at her heaviest. “It just made it worse.”

In 2020, Weaver’s mother turned to Johns Hopkins All Children’s pediatric weight clinic in St. Petersburg, Fla., for help. Weaver was diagnosed with pre-diabetes andpolycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that makes losing weight more difficult. She began taking Metformin, a drug that lowers blood sugar — but the progress was slow going.

Shaelyn Weaver in 2021.Courtesy Shaelyn Weaver

Courtesy Shaelyn Weaver

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In December 2022, she wasprescribed Ozempic. Her mom was hesitant, but Weaver told her, “This is something I want to do.” She also made lifestyle changes, adding a weight-lifting routine, practicing portion control and increasing daily walks with her grandmother.

In eight months, Weaver lost nearly 150 lbs. She recalls the pride she felt looking in her closet and seeing so many shirts that were size small. She enjoyed walking through Target and “not feeling like you’re being looked at.” But most importantly, she qualified for the breast reduction surgery she desperately wanted.

“There’s not a word that could be bigger than ‘awesome,’ ” she says of how she felt. “I finally saw myself as the girl I wanted to be.”

Shaelyn Weaver in 2023.Allyn DiVito/Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital St Petersburg, Florida

Allyn DiVito/Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital St Petersburg, Florida

The journey wasn’t necessarily an easy one, however. Weaver describes how her weight loss sometimes stagnated, or she’d “fall back” and gain weight. But, she took it in stride. “There’s always going to be up and downs,” she says.

The biggest hurdle came in August 2024 when her insurance stopped covering Ozempic because she was no longer pre-diabetic. The cost soared from $27 to more than $800 a month. Weaver had to stop taking the medication.

Since then, she has gained back more than 50 lbs. and her food cravings have returned. But, she won’t give up. She maintains her workouts and “instead of stuffing my face with junk food, I shove it full of fruit,” she says.

“I’m trying to do the best I can to fight back. It’s like a fisticuffs battle.”

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source: people.com