‘I’m on Mounjaro. It doesn’t really agree with me, so I think I’m going to probably come off it. I was on quite a big dosage,’ she explained.

‘The doctors put me on it because I’m diabetic. I was clinically obese, as they would say. They said this was this wonder drug, and I took it and then they upped [the dosage] again.’

Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, was developed to help people manage type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels. It works by mimicking two hormones that influence blood sugar control and appetite suppression.

Recently, it has gained widespread attention as a powerful tool for weight loss, particularly among people who are overweight or obese. Like other medications in the same class, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, it’s administered via weekly injections.

When Cheryl first began taking Mounjaro, she found that it significantly reduced her appetite, helping her to eat far less than before.

‘Before, I could eat a whole pizza,’ she admitted. ‘But on the jabs, I could only eat one slice before becoming full.’

This dramatic reduction in food intake allowed her to lose three stone (over 40 pounds), a significant milestone for someone managing both diabetes and weight-related health risks. However, her celebration was short-lived, as her body began reacting negatively to the drug.

The side effects are, I think, worse,’ she said. ‘There are fluids coming out from both ends a lot of the time. I’m sick, I’ve got diarrhoea with it. My hair… I can pull it out in clumps.’

‘Luckily, I’ve got a lot of hair. But there’s a lot of stuff I’m not sure about with it. I’m not sure it agrees with me.’

Hair loss, gastrointestinal distress, and fatigue are among the reported side effects of drugs like Mounjaro, but for Cheryl, the impact has been more severe than she expected.

Despite the physical transformation, the toll on her health and well-being has made her question whether continuing the treatment is worth it.

Her honesty comes at a time when weight loss injections are increasingly in the spotlight, with many celebrities and even influencers endorsing them. The drugs are often praised for their quick results, but Cheryl’s story serves as a reminder that they are not without risks.

It’s a far cry from the character Cheryl portrayed on EastEnders. Heather Trott, who was written off the show in 2012 in a dramatic storyline involving Ben Mitchell, was never portrayed as someone who obsessed over her weight. In fact, fans loved her for her humour, warmth, and relatability.

Cheryl has often spoken about the stark contrast between herself and her on-screen character, particularly in how society views women’s bodies both in the media and in real life.

Over the years, Cheryl has been a vocal advocate for self-acceptance and health awareness. Even now, as she navigates the complications of diabetes and the realities of weight loss medications, she’s continuing that honesty by sharing her journey, including the parts most people don’t see.

As for what comes next, she hasn’t officially confirmed whether she’ll come off Mounjaro for good, but her remarks suggest a pause for reflection.

As more people consider treatments like Mounjaro, stories like Cheryl’s serve as a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and that the human body, much like the characters we grow to love on screen, is often far more complex than we realise.