EastEnders star Nina Wadia warns of weight-loss injection side effects | Soaps

Former EastEnders favourite Nina Wadia has spoken candidly about her impressive two-stone weight loss, and she’s keen to clear one thing up straight away. Despite plenty of assumptions, the actress insists she hasn’t relied on weight-loss injections to transform her figure and is now urging people to think carefully before turning to jabs.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain yesterday, the 57-year-old shut down speculation head-on as she chatted with Ed Balls and Susanna Reid about her slimmer appearance. Nina, who played Zainab Masood on the BBC soap from 2007 to 2013, explained that her weight loss has been the result of gradual lifestyle changes over several years rather than a quick fix.

Talking about how long the process took, she said: ‘It’s been over the last three years, it’s been very gradual. It’s been an ongoing project because I want it to stay off.’

Nina admitted she understands why people assume injections are involved, given how common they’ve become, but says slow and steady has been key for her.

‘I get that all the time, since this thing has been out,’ she confessed.
‘I’m like, no, the reason it has stayed off is because I have been doing it very gradually.’

The actress went on to explain how turning 50 was a real wake-up call when it came to her health. Regular NHS check-up letters made her more aware of how much effort it now takes to maintain balance.

‘Once I turned 50, I got letters from the NHS, I’m sure any woman out there, in fact, any man, even my husband gets this.
When the letters come in it’s like, come in for diabetes check, come in for cholesterol check. And you go why is everyone taking such a big interest?
It’s because once you hit that age, for me, it’s like I have no metabolic rate. I have to be so careful about making sure that I move every single day.
The day you don’t move, you put on a pound!’

While Nina made it clear that weight-loss jabs weren’t part of her own journey, she was careful not to dismiss them outright. She acknowledged they can have a place, particularly for people who genuinely need medical support, but warned they aren’t without risks.

‘Some of my friends who have taken it have said they’ve been very depressed because they lost their appetite completely,’ she said.

She added: ‘I’ll be very clear about this. I think jabs, if it is something you need to do, because you are in need of it, obese… I think it’s important that yes, you do go down that route as a kickstarter. It’s worked wonders for that.’

For Nina, however, the focus has been on staying active rather than tracking numbers or chasing rapid results. She revealed that movement, in any form, is her non-negotiable.

‘I joined the This Girl Can campaign and the reason for that, it doesn’t matter what age you are, or what size you are, as long as you are moving every day. Even a ten-minute walk every day. It will work wonders for you.’

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When Susanna Reid asked whether she keeps an eye on her step count, Nina replied simply: ‘I don’t actually. I just like to go out, I just like to be active.’

Her comments come as weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Ozempic continue to make headlines, with around 2.5 million people in the UK believed to be using them. Originally developed to treat diabetes, the drugs suppress appetite by mimicking a hormone that makes people feel fuller.

A major new trial is also underway in Greater Manchester, where up to 3,000 people will be prescribed Mounjaro by their GP to explore whether the drug could improve long-term health outcomes and even help people return to work.

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