Katie Price has confirmed that her 24-year-old son Harvey will begin taking Mounjaro, a weight-loss medication, after years of growing health concerns. The 48-year-old former glamour model announced the news on the latest episode of The Katie Price Show podcast, telling her sister Sophie that the treatment she has long campaigned for is finally going ahead.
“Harvey is starting the Mounjaro,” Katie said. Sophie replied: “Yeah, I think that will really help him because he’s struggling at the minute.” Katie added: “It’s taken so long but he’s starting [the jabs]. I can’t wait. Then he can do the rollercoasters, he can do more, walk more and have more energy.”
Harvey lives with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition characterised by an excessive appetite, along with autism and sight impairment. Katie has previously revealed his weight had climbed to almost 30 stone. On the podcast, she claimed his BMI is currently 59, stressing: “So he needs it for his health. This isn’t for looks, it’s for a better quality of life for him.”
What is Mounjaro and how does it work?
Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a medication administered by injection rather than taken as a pill. In the UK, it can be prescribed for weight management to eligible adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. While sometimes nicknamed a “weight-loss jab”, its use in Harvey’s case is intended to address serious health risks, not cosmetic concerns.
The update is particularly significant given Katie’s mounting worries about Harvey’s health over recent years. Prader-Willi syndrome can cause physical, behavioural and learning difficulties, and its hallmark excessive appetite makes weight management extremely challenging, potentially leading to dangerous obesity without careful oversight.
Harvey’s health needs extend beyond his weight. He is also autistic and partially blind due to septo-optic dysplasia, a rare condition affecting early brain and eye development. Katie has cared for Harvey throughout his life and has frequently spoken about the additional support he requires. In 2020, she discussed placing him into residential care after admitting she could no longer meet all of his increasingly complex needs at home.
Growing health fears and public appeals
Last year, Katie revealed Harvey had reached 188kg – around 29st 8lbs – and admitted watching the number climb “breaks my heart”. She said at the time: “It’s so sad his quality of life at the moment, where he’s so big, he just can’t really do much.” Everyday activities had become difficult, with Harvey struggling to put on his trainers or walk significant distances. Doctors had previously warned that his weight could increase his risk of serious cardiovascular problems.
Earlier this year, those fears intensified when Katie described listening to Harvey as he slept and becoming frightened by his breathing. On her podcast in March, she said: “I’m actually going to put some up on Instagram to say, ‘Is there any private doctors out there?’ because the NHS are so – I’m not slagging the NHS off, but they know he’s in the obese category. When he sleeps, I worry because he’s snoring and wheezing.” She claimed Harvey would sometimes appear to hold his breath while sleeping and feared what could happen without intervention. “They’ve already told me years ago that if you don’t lose weight, he’s prone to a heart attack,” she said. “I just feel so bad, so I’m going to have to do something.”
Katie stressed she would never administer the medication herself without medical supervision. “I mean, I’m not going to inject him myself because that’s not medically right to do for him,” she explained. “But something needs to be done.” She later made a public appeal on Instagram, writing: “NHS are not helping if thetes [sic] any private doctors who any one know please DM me I cant lose Harvey.”
Treatment approved and hopes for greater independence
Her latest announcement suggests that, five months later, the treatment has now been approved, although Katie did not provide further details about who will oversee Harvey’s treatment or when he will receive his first dose. The star’s hope is not simply that the medication will reduce the number on the scales, but that weight loss will give Harvey greater independence and allow him to enjoy activities currently made difficult or impossible by his size – including going on rollercoasters.
Harvey has recently been enjoying a summer holiday in Ibiza with his mum, where the pair visited Wayne Lineker’s O Beach club. The 64-year-old club owner later praised Katie after watching her care for her son throughout their visit, revealing she had repeatedly made sure Harvey was comfortable in the heat and even arranged for the chef to make his favourite carbonara despite it not being on the menu. He also described the moment clubgoers began chanting Harvey’s name as one of the “most special” things he had witnessed.
Katie has spent much of Harvey’s life publicly campaigning around disability and the challenges faced by families caring for disabled children and adults. This latest development marks a milestone in her long-running efforts to secure a treatment that could dramatically improve her eldest son’s quality of life.
