EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley has said she believes she became 'immune' to the weight-loss jab Wegovy before turning to gastric sleeve surgery, which she credits as a major part of her weight-loss journey.

Stanley, 50, best known as Karen Taylor in the BBC soap, told the Mirror she lost about two stone on the drug, but she said the weight returned after she stopped using it.

'I'd tried Wegovy. I have friends on different weight-loss jabs and they work for them,' she said. 'I'm not against them, but for whatever reason I feel like I got immune to them.'

She said her eating habits barely changed while she was on the injections. 'It got to the point where I was injecting myself and eating at the same time,' she said. 'I was thinking, "What the hell are you doing?" So I decided that was it, time to get this surgery booked.'

What Wegovy Weight-Loss Jabs Do

Wegovy is a weekly injection containing semaglutide, one of a class of medicines known as GLP-1 agonists. According to US medical centre Cleveland Clinic, they mimic a natural gut hormone that slows the emptying of the stomach and increases the feeling of fullness. That reduces appetite and often leads to weight loss.

The clinic says the medicines should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite, while pancreatitis is a rare but serious risk. Its guidance, last updated in 2023, tells patients to speak to their doctor if they are thinking of stopping the medication.

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Gastric Sleeve Surgery at a Harley Street Clinic

Stanley had a gastric sleeve in 2023. The operation removes a large portion of the stomach to limit how much a person can eat at one time. She said it cost 'an awful lot of money'.

'I'm not going to lie, nor am I promoting it, but I had weight-loss surgery,' she said. 'I had a gastric sleeve. I went to Harley Street.' She called it 'hands-down the best thing I've ever done, both for me and for my family'. She admitted to some regret about not losing the weight through diet and exercise alone.

Stanley has said she must keep her mindset in check to avoid slipping back into emotional eating and worries that her stomach could stretch if old habits return. She has previously said she 'got really big' while working on the soap, blaming comfort eating and having 'too much money'.

Diet, Exercise and Sobriety After Surgery

Since the operation, Stanley has told Woman's Own she exercises daily and works with her nutritionist friend Louise, whom she calls her 'fitness guru'. 'I've eaten a lot of boiled eggs, fish, chicken, no carbs, no crisps and no chocolate,' she said. 'I'm enjoying it and I feel better for it.'

She has also given up alcohol. Sharing a photo from a night out, she wrote: 'I'm five months sober and still had a good night dancing! #Sobriety.' Her former co-star Diane Parish commented: 'You look incredible!'

Stanley has also posted side-by-side photos on Instagram with the caption: 'What a difference a year makes. Five stone down, feeling good, clean living, healthy choices, new me, healthy mummy.'

She is married to her partner Mark Perez, after more than a decade together. She was most recently photographed at the Pink London Gala Dinner, wearing a pink gown with an animal-print jacket and black heels.

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